Saint Symeon the Metaphrast

Life

Symeon was a gifted citizen of Constantinople. He had both secular and spiritual education. He became imperial logothete and first nobleman at the court. Yet he lived purely and blamelessly like a true ascetic. He was distinguished also by great military courage and wisdom in statecraft. For this reason Emperor Leo the Wise greatly esteemed him, and once sent him to Crete to negotiate peace with the Arabs, who at that time had occupied this island. Having successfully completed this mission, he returned to Constantinople, and soon withdrew from the world and worldly affairs. He wrote Lives of the saints, composing one hundred twenty-two new biographies and correcting five hundred thirty-nine biographies. He reposed around the year 960. From his body flowed fragrant and healing myrrh.