Psellos tried to maintain correspondence with Aimilainos of Antioch, glad of news from anywhere, as Aimilainos rarely wrote

Summary:
A monk brought news of the spiritual welfare of Aimilianos of Antioch, enthusing Psellos, as he had no such soothing music from Aimilianos himself. Psellos replied, asking Aimilianos to write as he wished: Psellos would read his letters in his own way. Another letter complained of the lack of replies, claiming that Psellos once got perfume and letters from Antioch: if the perfume had stopped, why should Aimilianos' more valuable letters stop too? A third letter tried another approach. Psellos lamented the cessation of letters from Aimilianos requesting advice. Now with Socratic boldness, Psellos discoursed on Aimilianos and Antioch with generalised advice, answering out of total ignorance questions which had not been asked. He was not close to the capital's expert on Antioch. A fourth was a letter of clichés, apparently elicited by letter-carriers. Psellos was well and happy; memories made him want conversation with Aimilianos, but as this was impossible, distance imposed letters. Aimilianos should write whenever possible, to reassure Psellos on his health, but also perform patriarchal duties of prayer, especially for Psellos. In a fifth, Psellos claimed to be always thinking of Aimilianos (though he rarely wrote), boasting of strong support by Michael VII. By adding sophistic to philosophy, Psellos had a high reputation, which he would try in time to deserve 
Dates:
1073 (Uncertain) 
Aimilianos, patriarch of Antioch (Aimilianos 61)
  • News of his spiritual welfare was brought by Anonymus 2457, giving Psellos great joy, since he had no such soothing music from Aimilianos himself; Aimilianos should write as he wished, Psellos would read his letters in his own way (:) Psellos Letters (K - D) 139, 166.10-167.8
  • His holy fragrance was preferable to myrrh for Michael 61, who thought his Antioch the luckiest of cities, as he used to receive perfume and letters; if one was in short supply, why should letters dry up too? Aimilianos should please write (:) Psellos Letters (K - D) 88, 116.19-117.28
  • He used to consult Michael 61, but letters had stopped; he received a letter from Psellos, who with Socratic boldness spoke of Aimilianos and Antioch, giving generalised advice, answering from a position of ignorance questions not asked (:) Psellos Letters (K - D) 134, 156.19-158.4
  • He received from Michael 61 a letter of clichés, apparently elicited by letter-carriers: Psellos was well, happy, busy, wanted to talk in person to Aimilianos, could not do so, wanted Aimilianos to send letters and pray for him (:) Psellos Letters (Gautier) 22.1-24
  • He received a letter from Michael 61, who said he was always thinking of him, though he rarely wrote; Psellos boasted of support from Michael 7; by adding sophistic to philosophy his renown was high: he would try in time to deserve it (:) Psellos Letters (Sathas) 42.275
informant on news from Antioch (Anonymus 2452)
  • He could have warned Michael 61 (in the capital?) of problems arising in Antioch; but Psellos was not close to him (:) Psellos Letters (K - D) 134, 157.32-158.1
monk carrying news from Antioch (Anonymus 2457)
  • He brought news of Aimilianos 61's spiritual welfare, giving Psellos great joy, since he had no such soothing music from Aimilianos himself (:) Psellos Letters (K - D) 139, 166.10-20
Emperor Michael VII Doukas (Michael 7)
  • He was claimed as a firm supporter by Michael 61 in a letter to Aimilianos 61 πᾶν ἡμῖν ἀγαθὸν χορηγεῖται παρὰ τοῦ [...] βασιλέως ἡμῶν Psellos Letters (Sathas) 42.275
Michael Psellos (named Konstantinos till tonsure in 1054) (Michael 61)
  • Anonymus 2457 brought news of Aimilianos 61's spiritual welfare, giving Psellos great joy, since he had no such soothing music from Aimilianos himself; Aimilianos should write as he wished, Psellos would read his letters in his own way (:) Psellos Letters (K - D) 139, 166.10-167.8
  • He wrote to Aimilianos 61, saying that Anonymus 2457 had brought him news Psellos Letters (K - D) 139, 166.10-167.8
  • He wrote to Aimilianos 61, complaining that his letters had stopped Psellos Letters (K - D) 88, 116.19-117.28
  • He preferred Aimilianos 61’s holy fragrance to myrrh, and believed his Antioch to be the luckiest of cities; he used to receive perfume and letters; if one was in short supply, why should letters dry up too? Aimilianos should please write (:) Psellos Letters (K - D) 88, 116.19-117.28
  • He wrote to Aimilianos 61 about his situation in Antioch, of which he knew very little Psellos Letters (K - D) 134, 156.19-158.4
  • He once was consulted by Aimilianos 61, but letters had stopped; with Socratic boldness, he spoke of Aimilianos and Antioch, giving generalised advice, answering questions not asked; he was not close to Anonymus 2452, so as to predict trouble (:) Psellos Letters (K - D) 134, 156.19-158.4
  • Aimilianos 61 should write at every opportunity, to reassure Psellos of the health of his pre-eminent friend; but he should also perform his patriarchal duty of prayer, especially for Psellos (:) Psellos Letters (Gautier) 22.14-24
  • Friendly letter-carriers did not let him rest, though he was very busy, making him tell Aimilianos 61 he was well and happy; memories made him want to see Aimilianos for wise conversation, but as this was impossible, distance imposed letters (:) Psellos Letters (Gautier) 22.1-14
  • He wrote to Aimilianos 61 a letter largely of clichés, apparently elicited by letter-carriers Psellos Letters (Gautier) 22.1-24
  • He wrote to Aimilianos 61 that he was always thinking of him Psellos Letters (Sathas) 42.275
  • He wrote to Aimilianos 61 that he was always thinking of him, though he rarely wrote; Psellos boasted of strong support by Michael 7: by adding sophistic to philosophy he had a high reputation, which he would try in time to deserve (:) Psellos Letters (Sathas) 42.275