He discussed his plans as a charistikarios with Romanos, metropolitan of Kyzikos, using the metaphor of marrying monasteries. The monastery of Artigenes (Romanos' suggestion) was already "married" to an elderly charistikarios, while Psellos preferred Mountania, recently "widowed" of two owners. He promised Romanos to offer his monastery "bride" better presents, farm animals, not jewels. Artigenes would be expensive, while Mountania could be kept happy with a smile and an elderly co-investor to make him look young by comparison