Georgios Tornikes wrote three unhappy letters on his first arrival in Ephesos

Summary:
Soon after arrival in Ephesos, he wrote three letters to his acquaintances: to Georgios (Bourtzes), metropolitan of Athens, from whom he had no news; to Eirene Doukaina, daughter of Anna Komnene, without seeking to add to her burdens, and with greetings to her don Alexios; and to Theodoros Pantechnes, telling him that Ephesos had deteriorated markedly since he saw it. The message of the three letters was similar: he was dismayed by coming face-to-face with the problems he had taken on, and wished he had not. His great church, the basilica of Hagios Ioannes, was in a bad state with falling masonry, suitable only for birds and animals. He was to return to Constantinople to lobby Manuel I, who had just returned to the capital 
Dates:
1155 
Alexios (Doukas), sebastos, son of Eirene, daughter of Anna Komnene (Alexios 25011)
Eirene Doukaina, daughter of Anna Komnene (Eirene 25003)
  • She received a letter from Georgios 25002, with a word for Alexios 25011; Georgios hesitated to add to woes caused by her enemies, but was shocked by human wickedness and the state of Hagios Ioannes' basilica, good only for birds and animals (:) Tornikes, Georgios 156.1-158.26
Georgios Bourtzes, metropolitan of Athens [1153, 1157, d.1160] (Georgios 20103)
  • He received a letter from Georgios 25002 in Ephesos, a reluctant Asiatic; he was dismayed by the place, the people and Hagios Ioannes' ruinous basilica, consoled only by his non-tomb; he repented he had accepted the see and had no news of Athens (:) Tornikes, Georgios 152.1-155.8
Georgios Tornikes, man of letters and metropolitan of Ephesos (Georgios 25002)
  • He wrote to Georgios 20103, complaining he would be for ever an Asiatic, dismayed by Ephesos, its people and the ruinous state of Hagios Ioannes' basilica, consoled only by his non-tomb, repenting acceptance of the see; he had no news of Athens (:) Tornikes, Georgios 152.1-155.8
  • He wrote to Eirene 25003 mentioning Alexios 25011; he was shocked by the state of Hagios Ioannes' basilica, good only for birds and animals; he would soon return to her (and Manuel 1) in the capital (:) Tornikes, Georgios 156.1-158.26
  • He complained to Theodoros 25002 of falling masonry in Hagios Ioannes' basilica; Alexios 17006 was helpful, but nothing else, especially the tax regime, killing the church; he must return to the capital to lobby the newly returned Manuel 1 (:) Tornikes, Georgios 159.1-161.8
Emperor Manuel I Komnenos (Manuel 1)
  • He had returned to Constantinople, making it essential for Georgios 25002 to come to the capital to lobby him Tornikes, Georgios 158.22-23, 161.4-6
Theodoros Pantechnes (Theodoros 25002)
  • He was told by Georgios 25002 that Hagios Ioannes' basilica had deteriorated since he saw it, with falling masonry; though Alexios 17006 was positive, the church was dying; Georgios must return to the capital to lobby the newly returned Manuel 1 (:) Tornikes, Georgios 159.1-161.8