Death of Michael Psellos' elder sister sent their mother into a convent

Summary:
Psellos' elder sister, while her brother was absent, was attacked by an internal disease, which damaged her liver and caused it to swell. She developed a high fever, and soon wasted from well-nourished good health to death. She died in her mother's arms. Her mother, Theodote, seized the chance to devote herself to God in a convent, got the consent of her husband, and cut off her hair, which was carried on the edges of the funeral bier. Her daughter was buried near her mother's chosen convent. The parents realised what a shock this would be for Psellos, a devoted brother, and arranged the funeral quickly 
Dates:
1034 
elder sister of Michael Psellos (Anonyma 2110)
  • While her brother Michael 61 was absent, she was attacked by an internal disease, which damaged her liver and caused it to swell; she developed a high fever, and soon wasted from well-nourished good health to death Psellos Mother 28-29
father of Michael Psellos (Anonymus 2134)
  • He, with his wife Theodote 2101, were shocked by the death of their daughter Anonyma 2110, and fearful that the event would have serious consequences for Michael 61, who was devoted to his dead sister, if he learned of it suddenly (:) Psellos Mother 29
  • His daughter Anonyma 2110 suddenly fell sick and died in the arms of his wife, Theodote 2101; he, being sensitive, was distraught, but she suppressed her emotion and decided to enter a convent, gaining his consent and changing her clothing (:) Psellos Mother 32-33
Michael Psellos (named Konstantinos till tonsure in 1054) (Michael 61)
  • At the age of 16 he left the capital for the first time, in the service of Anonymus 2138 in the countryside outside the walls, and so was absent for a time at the moment when his sister Anonyma 2110 fell ill and died (:) Psellos Mother 28
Theodote, mother of Michael Psellos (Theodote 2101)
  • She, with her husband Anonymus 2134, were shocked by the death of their daughter Anonyma 2110, and fearful that the event would have serious consequences for Michael 61, who was devoted to his dead sister, if he learned of it suddenly (:) Psellos Mother 29
  • Her daughter Anonyma 2110 fell ill and died in her arms; she seized the chance to devote herself to God in a convent, got the consent of her husband, Anonymus 2134, and cut off her hair, which was carried on the edges of the funeral bier (:) Psellos Mother 32
  • She pursued unflinchigly her goal of entering a convent, had the tomb of her daughter dug in the place where she would be restricted, and shut herself away there, on her own intiative, with no spiritual adviser, sacrificing Anonymus 2134 (:) Psellos Mother 33
  • Now that she was able to concentrate single-mindedly on her devotion to God, she perfected her ascetic practices, mastering her feelings, her use of time and movement and her intake of food; all these she was able to examine and analyse (:) Psellos Mother 34-36