Ioannes Xiphilinos became a monk, reminding Psellos that he had promised to follow him

Summary:
Ioannes Xiphilinos and Michael Psellos had agreed both to become monks once one of them had accepted tonsure. Xiphilinos received a blow (from Ophrydas), then suffered several other blows, direct and indirect, which made him think again of departing from the world, and remind Psellos of their plan. They delayed, out of repect for Konstantinos IX. Eventually, afraid of Konstantinos' unpredictable behaviour, Xiphilinos decided to depart and took an oath on it. Having decided, he claimed physical infirmity as a pretext: with much panting, he gradually revealed his illness to Konstantinos IX and asked to retire. The emperor was thunderstruck; mistrusting his own ability to change the man's mind, he asked Psellos for aid, only to suffer another shock when he declined, citing his own similar plans. The emperor spoke of treachery and conspiracy, but, bearing no grudge, begged Psellos to stay and try to replace Xiphilinos, to whom he reluctantly granted permission to retire. Claiming that as he donned the monastic habit he would obtain a cure from God, Xiphilinos immediately departed to the holy mountain of Olympos. Psellos saw him as he left and poured out streams of tears, hoping to follow him at once. He was deeply troubled about the right moment for his own retirement 
Dates:
1053 (Uncertain) 
Ioannes VIII Xiphilinos, patriarch of Constantinople (Ioannes 18)
  • Embraced monastic life on Mount Olympus, although he was still young and successful, being near the emperor (Konstantinos 9 Monomachos) in the palace, and remained a monk for a long time (:) ἐν ἀκμῇ τῆς εὐημερίας καὶ τῆς ἡλικίας Attaleiates: History 92.18-23 / 70.8-11
  • At the height of his prosperity and youth he embraced monastic life and chose to live as an anchorite on Mount Olympos for a considerable time (:) Skylitzes Continuatus 117.16-19
  • Devising the further excuse that as soon as he donned the monastic habit he would obtain a cure from God, he delayed no more but immediately departed to the holy mountain of Olympos (:) ὡς ὁμοῦ τε τὸ σχῆμα ἐπενδυθείη καὶ τετυχήκοι θειοτέρας ἰάσεως Psellos: Chronographia VI 195.4-7
  • He was first to take the path towards God: having made up his mind he claimed physical infirmity as a pretext; then, with much panting, he gradually made his illness known to Konstantinos 9 and asked for retirement (:) εἶτα δὴ καὶ ἀσθμαίνων κατὰ βραχὺ γνωρίζει τὸ πάθος τῷ βασιλεῖ καὶ δεῖται μεταποιηθήσεσθαι Psellos: Chronographia VI 195.1-7
  • Konstantinos 9 was down-hearted, but granted permission for his retirement, though injured to the heart that he was so soon to lose such a man (:) ἐπέπληκτο δὲ τὴν ψυχὴν ὅτι αὐτίκα μέλλει στερηθήσεσθαι τοιοῦδε ἀνδρός Psellos: Chronographia VI 195.7-9
  • (When he was allowed to retire) Michael 61 could neither sleep nor rest, nor await the right moment for his own retirement; going to him Psellos poured out streams of tears and expressed the hope of following at once (:) πολλοὺς κατασπείσας δακρύων κρουνοὺς, κατήλπισα ὡς αὐτίκα ἑψόμενος Psellos: Chronographia VI 196.1-4
  • He preceded (Michael 61) in seizing the better life ὁ προλαβὼν καὶ τὴν κρείττω προαρπάσας ζωήν Psellos: Chronographia VI 198.10.11
  • Afraid of Konstantinos 9's swift changes of mind he exchanged the better life for the worse, one free of waves for confusion and disturbance (:) ἡ τοῦ κρατοῦντος ταχεῖα τῆς γνώμης μετάθεσις, ἣν ἡμεῖς δεδοικότες ... Psellos: Chronographia VI 200.4-7
  • Leaving everything voluntarily, he frequented the monasteries on Olympos, cut his hair and submitted to the monastic life (:) Zonaras 18.9.18
  • After the first attack, he suffered several other blows, direct and indirect, which made him revisit the idea of departing from the world, and remind Michael 61 of their common plan; eventually he decided to go and took an oath on it (:) Psellos Xiphilinos 421
  • Neither he nor Michael 61 left at once for a monastery, out of respect for their benefactor Konstantinos 9; but sickness soon confirmed his decision, and he dedicated himself wholly to God, asking Konstantinos for leave to depart (:) Psellos Xiphilinos 421
  • He left Constantinople and became a monk on Mt Olympos, where he gained intellectual ascendancy making the mountain a paradise of eloquence (:) Psellos Xiphilinos 421
Emperor Konstantinos IX Monomachos (Konstantinos 9)
  • He was down-hearted, but granted permission for Ioannes 18's retirement, though injured to the heart that he was so soon to lose such a man (:) ἐπέπληκτο δὲ τὴν ψυχὴν ὅτι αὐτίκα μέλλει στερηθήσεσθαι τοιοῦδε ἀνδρός Psellos: Chronographia VI 195.7-9
  • Ioannes 18 made up his mind (to retire to a monastery) claiming physical infirmity as a pretext; then, with much panting, he gradually made his illness known to the emperor and asked for retirement (:) εἶτα δὴ καὶ ἀσθμαίνων κατὰ βραχὺ γνωρίζει τὸ πάθος τῷ βασιλεῖ καὶ δεῖται μεταποιηθήσεσθαι Psellos: Chronographia VI 195.1-7
  • He was thunderstruck when Ioannes 18 asked for leave to enter a monastery; mistrusting his own ability to change Ioannes' mind, he asked Michael 61 for aid, only to suffer another shock when Michael declined, citing his own similar plans (:) Psellos Xiphilinos 421
  • When he heard that he would lose both Ioannes 18 and Michael 61, he spoke of treachery and conspiracy, but, bearing no grudge, begged Michael to stay and try to replace Ioannes (:) Psellos Xiphilinos 421
Michael Psellos (named Konstantinos till tonsure in 1054) (Michael 61)
  • When Ioannes 18 was allowed to retire, Psellos could neither sleep nor rest, nor await the right moment for his own retirement; going to Ioannes, he poured out streams of tears and expressed the hope of following at once (:) πολλοὺς κατασπείσας δακρύων κρουνούς, κατήλπισα ὡς αὐτίκα ἑψόμενος Psellos: Chronographia VI 196.1-4
  • He was left behind by Ioannes 18, who left for Mt Olympos; while Ioannes floursished with this change of life, Psellos was deeply uncomfortable without his friend, wondering whether to fulfil his promise and follow his example (:) Psellos Xiphilinos 421
  • He was reminded by Ioannes 18, who had suffered several blows, of their common idea of departing from the world, but neither carried it out immediately, out of respect for their benefactor Konstantinos 9 (:) Psellos Xiphilinos 421