Basil from Ohrid and his circle

Abstract

The paper explores biographical assumptions about Basil from Ohrid, who became the metropolitan of Thessalonike by October 1154 and met his end after 1160. He had a friendly relationship with John Tzetzes and Leo Charsianites, metropolitan of Dristra. It is possible that Leo and Basil served together as deacons in the patriarchal chancellery sometime between 1140 and 1146. Many issues remain unclear, including the question whether Michael, the Master of the Rhetors, was indeed Basil?s nephew. Michael and a circle of like-minded church dignitaries came under scrutiny in the Synods of 1156 and 1157 regarding their understanding of Christ?s sacrifice. Basil?s personal ties with this group might account for his initially reticent stance in this matter. It seems unlikely that he subscribed to their views. The tenor in his description of the Paschal Service in a later speech before the emperor appears motivated to demonstrate this.