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