Metochita

(Γεώργιος ὁ Μετοχίτης), magnus diaconus in Constantinople, lived in the thirteenth century.

He was an intimate friend and staunch adherent of the emperor Andronicus the Elder, and one of those few Greek divines who advocated the re-union of the Greek and Latin churches. For both these reasons he was deposed and exiled, about 1283, by the emperor Andronicus the Younger. He died in exile, but the year of his death is not known. Some say that he was the father of the following Theodore Metochita, with whom several modern writers have confounded him. Works

He wrote different works of no small importance for the history of the time: his style is abominable, but full of expressive strength and barbarous vigour. 1. Ἀντίρρησις, &c., or Refutatio trium Capitum Maxini Planudis; and 2. Ἀντίρρησις, &c., or, Responsio ad ea quae Manuel Nepos Cretensis publicavit Editions

Both published together, Greek and Latin, by Leo Allatius, in the second volume of Graecia Orthodox. 3. Fragmentum ex Oratione de Unione Ecclesiarum Editions

Published by the same in his diatribe Contra Hottinger. 4. Fragm. ex Oratione de Dissidio Ecclesiar. Editions

Published by the same in his diatribe Contra Hottinger. 5. Tractatus de Processione Spiritus Sancti Patrumque húc in re Sententiis

divided into five parts or books.

Hottinger gives some information on the whole work in his De Consensu utriusque Ecclesiae, p. 771. Editions

A fragment of the fourth was published by Combéfis in the second volume of Nova Biblioth. Patr. and a fragment of the fifth by Leo Allatius in De Purgatorio and Contra Hottinger., Other Minor Productions

Most of these were known to Leo Allatius. 6. Oratio Antirrhetica contra Georgium Cyprium Patriarcham. 7. Oratio de Sacris Mysteriis 8. Explicatio Regularum S. Nicephori &c. Further Information

Fabric. Bibl. Graec. vol. x. p. 412, not.; Cave, Hist. Lit. ad ann. 1276, p. 645, ed. Geneva. [W.P]

(Θεόδωρος ὁ Μετοχίτης), the intimate friend and adherent of the unfortunate emperor Andronicus the Elder (A. D. 1282-1328), was a man of extraordinary learning and great literary activity, although much of his time was taken up by the duties he had to discharge as Magnus Logotheta Ecclesiae Constant., and the various commissions with which he was entrusted by his imperial friend. No sooner had Andronicus the Younger usurped the throne, in 1328, than he deposed Metochita and sent him into exile. The learned priest, however, was soon recalled, but, disgusted with the world, he retired into a convent in Constantinople, where he died in 1332. It is said that he was the son of the preceding Georgius Metochita, with whom he has often been confounded. Nicephorus Gregoras, the writer, delivered the funeral oration at the interment of Th. Metochita, and wrote an epitaph which is given in Fabricius. Many details referring to the life of this distinguished divine are contained in the works of Nicephorus Gregoras and John Cantacuzenus. Works Published works

Metochita wrote a great number of works on various subjects; the principal are :-- 1. Παράφρασις

being commentaries on various works of Aristotle's, especially Physica, De Anima, De Coelo, De Ortu et Interitu, De Memoria et Remminiscentia, De Somno et Vigilia, and others. Editions

The Greek text has never been published. A Latin version by Gentianus Hervetus appeared at Basel, 1559, 4to; reprinted, Ravenna, 1614, 4to. 2. Χρονικόν

A Roman history from Julius Caesar to Constantine the Great. Regarding the doubts on Metochita's authorship of this work, compare Fabricius. Editions

The Greek text, with a Latin version, by John Meursius, Leyden, 1618. 4to. 3. Ὑπομνηματισμοὶ καὶ Σημειώσεις γνωμικαί

Various commentaries, essays, sentences, &c. Editions

published under the title Specimina Operum Theod. Metochitae, by Janus Bloch, Copenhagen, 1790, 8vo. Still unpublished

The following are still unpublished:-- 4. Περὶ Νεωτερικῆς κακοηθείαι, De mala recentiorum Consuetudine

This work treats on the corruption of the church, especially of the anti-Christian changes introduced into the rites. Arcadius made a Latin version of this work, which, however, seems not to have been published. 5. Λόγοι

eight books on ecclesiastical history, two of which are extant in MS. 6. Capita Philosophica et Historica Miscellanea CXX.

Of which Fabricius gives the titles. Their great variety allows us to infer the extensive learning and the speculative genius of Metochita. 7. Michaelis Palaeologi et Irenes Augustae Epitaphium.

8. Astronomica

Metochita was one of the best astronomers of his time. 9. Commentarii in Ptolemaei Magnam Synaxin

Said to be extant in MS. in Spain. Further Information

Fabric. Bibl. Graec. vol. x. p. 412, &c.; Cave, Hist. Lit. ad ann. 1276, and Wharton, in Append. to Cave, ad ann. 1301; Thomas Magister, Προσφονευτικόν (ad Metochitam) and Epistola (to the same), ed. Graec. et Lat., together with other letters of the same Thomas, Laurentius Normann, Upsala, 1693, 4to. [W.P]