Psellos took up the case of the monk Nikolaos, exiled from Antioch by the patriarch Aimilianos

Summary:
He wrote to the patriarch Aimilianos in favour of the monk Nikolaos, who after being honoured for years by Aimilianos was exiled by him and wandered far and wide in search of spiritual pasturage. He later approached Psellos for help, as the patriarch's friend. Psellos now asked Aimilianos to cancel the sentence, which had proved too severe for Nikolaos: the latter had been examined by Psellos as an expert in determining the condition of souls, and was declared cured and no longer infectious. He should now be welcomed back with enthusiasm and the killing of the fatted calf. In a second letter we learn that Aimilianos refused Psellos' request to reinstate Nikolaos. Psellos repeated it, asking Aimilianos, tamer of barbarians, to heal him, as he was helpless and desperate. If Nikolaos was truly evil he needed more treatment, so Aimilianos should open the Theotokos' fold and appoint a shepherd. Psellos often saw Nikolaos and he believed him sound 
Dates:
1073 (Uncertain) 
Aimilianos, patriarch of Antioch (Aimilianos 61)
  • He received a letter from Michael 61 about Nikolaos 2103, whom, after many years of honour, he exiled from Antioch; Psellos asked him to reinstate Nikolaos, as he found by expert examination that he was cured and deserved the fatted calf (:) ... ὃν ἐν πολλοῖς χρόνοις καὶ διὰ πολλῶν τετίμηκας ἐπιδείξεων Psellos Letters (Sathas) 61.292-294
  • He refused the request of Michael 61 to reinstate Nikolaos 2103; Psellos repeated it, asking Aimilianos, tamer of barbarians, to heal him, as he was helpless and desperate; Aimilianos should open the Theotokos’ fold and appoint a shepherd (:) Psellos Letters (Gautier) 23.1-55
Michael Psellos (named Konstantinos till tonsure in 1054) (Michael 61)
  • In the case of Nikolaos 2103, exiled from Antioch, he asked Aimilianos 61 to cancel the sentence, which had proved too severe for Nikolaos, who (as he had found by expert examination) was cured, and should now be welcomed back with enthusiasm (:) Psellos Letters (Sathas) 61.292-294
  • He wrote to Aimilianos 61 in favour of Nikolaos 2103, who after being honoured for years by Aimilianos was exiled by him and wandered in search of spiritual pasturage; he later approached Psellos for help, as the patriarch’s friend (:) ... ὃν ἐν πολλοῖς χρόνοις καὶ διὰ πολλῶν τετίμηκας ἐπιδείξεων Psellos Letters (Sathas) 61.292-294
  • He wrote to Aimilianos 61 in favour of Nikolaos 2103 Psellos Letters (Sathas) 61.292-294
  • Aimilianos 61 had refused his request to reinstate Nikolaos 2103; he repeated it: however bad Nikolaos was, Aimilianos, tamer of barbarians, could heal him; violent cures were useful in stubborn cases, but Nikolaos was helpless and desperate (:) Psellos Letters (Gautier) 23.1-42
  • If Nikolaos 2103 was truly evil he needed more treatment, so Aimilianos 61 should open the Theotokos' fold and appoint a shepherd; Psellos often saw Nikolaos and he believed him sound (:) Psellos Letters (Gautier) 23.43-55
  • He wrote to Aimilianos 61 repeating his request for him to reinstate Nikolaos 2103 Psellos Letters (Gautier) 23.1-55
Nikolaos, monk exiled from Antioch (Nikolaos 2103)
  • After many years of honour at Antioch, he was exiled by Aimilianos 61, and wandered everywhere looking for spiritual pasturage; he later approached Michael 61 for help, as the patriarch’s friend (:) ... ὃν ἐν πολλοῖς χρόνοις καὶ διὰ πολλῶν τετίμηκας ἐπιδείξεων Psellos Letters (Sathas) 61.292-294
  • He was examined by Michael 61, an expert in determining the condition of souls, and was declared cured and no longer infectious; Psellos recommended reinstatement with the slaughter of the fatted calf, even if others disagreed (:) Psellos Letters (Sathas) 61.293-294
  • He was not reinstated by Aimilianos 61, despite the letter of Michael 61, who repeated it: however bad he was, Aimilianos could heal him, as he was helpless and desperate; Psellos often saw Nikolaos and believed him sound, so Aimilianos should act (:) Psellos Letters (Gautier) 23.1-55