Symeon or Simeon (died ), distinguished as Symeon Metaphrastes (Latin) or Symeon the Metaphrast (, Symeṓn ho Metaphrastḗs), was a Byzantine writer and official regarded as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church. His feast day is celebrated on 9 or 28 November. He is best known for his 10-volume Greek menologion, a collection of saints' lives.

Life

About Symeon's life few details are known. In the 15th century, Mark Eugenikos wrongly called Symeon a megas logothetes. The hagiographer actually lived a generation later than the historian Symeon Logothete.

For his menologion, Symeon received praise from Nikephoros Ouranos and Michael Psellos addressed to him an encomium. It was widely read in monasteries. The standard edition came in ten volumes. Numerous illuminated copies were produced in the 11th century.

Some orthodox prayers of preparation before Holy Communion and prayers of thanksgiving after Holy Communion were composed by him.

Veneration

Venerable Symeon the Metaphrast is venerated in the Eastern Orthodox Church. Michael Psellos compiled Symeon's biography ( 1050) and he composed a liturgical office for him.

References

Further reading

  • Leo Allatius, De Symeonum scriptis diatriba (Paris, 1664)
  • Ferdinand Hirsch, Byzantinische Studien, pp. 303–355 (Leipzig, 1876)
  • Albert Ehrhard, Die Legendensammlung des Symeon Metaphrastes (Rome, 1897)
  • Römische Quartalschrift (1897), pp. 67205 and 531-553
  • Hippolyte Delehaye, La vie de saint Paul le Jeune et la chronologie de Metaphraste (1893)
  • Analecta Bollandiana, xvi. 312-327 and xvii. 448-452.
  • Christian Høgel: Symeon Metaphrastes. Rewriting and Canonization (Copenhagen 2002)
  • Greek Opera Omnia by Migne Patrologia Graeca with analytical indexes