Symeon Metaphrastes was the most renowned of the Byzantine hagiographers. The Byzantine Empire is the term conventionally used to describe the Greek-speaking Roman Empire during the Middle Ages, centered at its capital in Constantinople. ... Hagiography is the study of saints. ...

Scholars have been very much divided as to the period in which he lived, dates ranging from the 9th century to the 14th having been suggested; but it is now generally agreed that he flourished in the second half of the 10th century. This earthenware dish was made in 9th century Iraq. ... This 14th-century statue from south India depicts the gods Shiva (on the left) and Uma (on the right). ... As a means of recording the passage of time, the 10th century was that century which lasted from 901 to 1000. ...

Still greater divergences of opinion have existed as to the lives of saints coming from his pen, and here again the solution of the problem has been attained by studying the composition of the great Greek menologies. The menology of Metaphrastes is a collection of lives of saints for the twelve months of the year, easily recognizable among analogous collections, and consisting of about 150 distinct pieces, some of which are taken bodily from older collections, while others have been subjected to a new recension (,ueret pavts).

Among other works attributed (though with some uncertainty) to Symeon are a Chronicle, a canonical collection, some letters and poems, and other writings of less importance. Symeon's great popularity is due more particularly to his collection of lives of saints. About his life we know only very few details. The Greeks honour him as a saint on November 28, and an office has been composed in his honour. November 28 is the 332nd day (333rd on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Authorities

• Leo Allatius, De Symeonum scriptis diatriba (Paris, 1664)
• F Hirsch, Byzantinische Studien, pp. 303-355 (Leipzig, 1876)
• A Ehrhard, Die Legendensammlung des Symeon Metaphrastes (Rome, 1897)
• Römische Quartalschrift (1897), pp. 67205 and 531-553
• H Delehaye, La Vie de S. Paul le jeune et la chronologie de Metaphraste (1893)
• Analecta Bollandiana, xvi. 312-327 and xvii. 448-452.

This article incorporates text from the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica, which is in the public domain. Leo Allatius (circa 1586 - January 19, 1669) was an energetic Greek Catholic scholar and theologian. ... Supporters contend that the Eleventh Edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica (1910-1911) represents the sum of human knowledge at the beginning of the 20th century; indeed, it was advertised as such. ... The public domain comprises the body of all creative works and other knowledge—writing, artwork, music, science, inventions, and others—in which no person or organization has any proprietary interest. ...