Michael Syncellus

Michael Synkellos , also spelled Syncellus (c. 760 – 4 January 846), was a Greek Orthodox Arab Christian priest, monk and saint. He held the administrative office of synkellos of the patriarchate of Jerusalem (c. 811–815) and the patriarchate of Constantinople (843–846). He was involved in disputes over the clause and over Byzantine iconoclasm, which landed him in prison for the period 815–843. He nevertheless wrote extensively, producing grammar, theology, hagiographies, hymns and poetry. He wrote in Greek and made at least one translation from Arabic.

Life Michael was born in Jerusalem in or about 761. He was of Arab origin. He was the only son of his parents and had several older sisters. His mother dedicated him at the age of three to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where he was given the rank of anagnostes (reader). Around 786, when he was twenty-five, his father died, his mother and sisters entered a convent and he entered the lavra of Mar Saba as a monk. In 797 or 798, he was ordained a priest by the patriarch of Jerusalem.

Michael and his disciples arrived in Constantinople during the reign of Michael I, that is, before July 813. For reasons unknown, they remained in Constantinople for some time and never got to Rome. They stayed at the Chora monastery and became involved in disputes over the re-introduction of iconoclasm by the Emperor Leo V in 815. He is commemorated on December 18. Nikephoros Gregoras later also wrote a biography. the earliest surviving medieval treatise on Greek syntax, written between 810 and 813. It draws on the works of earlier writers, including Apollonius Dyscolus, Herodian, and the Τέχνη γραμματική (Technike grammatike) traditionally attributed to Dionysius Thrax, and covers all of the parts of speech, but says little about morphology. It became very popular in the 13th century and exists in around 100 manuscripts. Λίβελλος περὶ τῆς ὀρθοδόξου πίστεως (Libellos peri tes orthodoxou pisteos), a short book on orthodoxy. An anacreontic poem on the restoration of icons. Four canons (hymns). An encomium on Zechariah, father of John the Baptist; two encomia on the angels; one on the archangels Gabriel and Michael; one on Saint Mocius; and one on Saints Isaac and Dalmatius. An account of the life and miracles of John of Damascus and Cosmas of Maiuma and another biography of John of Damascus. Two orations or homilies, one on the dead and one on the Holy Girdle. His correspondence with other iconodules during his confinement in Prousias. His correspondence during solitary confinement with the iconodules Stephen the asekretis and Kallonas the spatharios.