Megalo 1

Prosopography of the Byzantine Empire
SexF
FloruitL VIII/E IX
Datesc. 760 (n.) / 818 (tpq)
PmbZ No.4930
LocationsPrinkipo (Princes' Islands);
Prinkipo (Princes' Islands) (residence);
Constantinople;
Constantinople (birthplace);
Constantinople (residence)
Textual SourcesSynaxarium Theophanis (BHG 1792e), Menologium (ed. Latyshev), pp. 41-44 (hagiography);
Theodorus Studita, Epistulae, ed. G. Fatouros, CFHB 31.1-2 (Berlin/New York, 1992) (letters);
Theodorus Studita, Laudatio Theophanis, ed. C. Van de Vorst, "Un panégyrique de S. Théophane le chronographe par S. Théodore Studite", Anal. Boll. 31 (1912), pp. 19-23; ed. S. Efthymiadis, "Le (hagiography);
Vita Theophanis Confessoris (BHG 1787z), by Methodius the patriarch, "Methodii Patriarchae Constantinpolitani Vita S. Theophanis Confessoris", Mémoires de l'Académie des Sciences de Russie. (hagiography);
Vita Theophanis Confessoris (BHG 1788), "Vita Brevior", ed. M. Gedeon, Byzantinon Heortologion (Constantinople, 1899), pp. 290-293 (hagiography);
Vita Theophanis Confessoris (BHG 1789), "Vita et Laudatio", in Theophanes Confessor, Chronographia, ed. C. de Boor, II 3-12 (hagiography);
Vita Theophanis Confessoris (BHG 1791), in Menologium, ed. B. Latyshev, I, 221-229 (hagiography)

Megalo 1 was the wife of Theophanes Homologetes (Theophanes 18). A native of Constantinople, she came of a prosperous and well-known family; her father was Leo 271 (and her mother Anonyma 92); at the age of eight she was betrothed to Theophanes 18, and was married to him when he was aged eighteen or nineteen, during the reign of Leo IV (Leo 4), under pressure from her father; the marriage was never consummated, and after the death of Leo 4 they separated and both entered a monastery; Megalo 1 took the name Eirene and entered a monastery on the island of Prinkipo, where she remained until her death; Theophanes wrote her many letters of encouragement (none survive); she outlived Theophanes: Vita Theoph. Conf. (BHG 1787z) 6, p.4, 11-14, pp. 7-10, 20, p. 15, 21, p. 15, Vita Theoph. Conf. (BHG 1788) 290, cap. 2, 291, cap. 3, Vita Theoph. Conf. (1789) 4,32 - 6,32, Vita Theoph. Conf. (1791) 390, 4-6, 391, 11, 392, 3-11, Theod. Stud., Laudatio Theophanis 20, 29-31, 3. 31-33. 23,10-15, Synaxarium Theophanis 41, 16 - 42, 15. She was a relation of Maria 11; they were both nuns and were the joint addressees of letters from Theodoros 15 (Theodore the Stoudite): Theod. Stud., Ep. 292 (a. 815/818; addressed μοναζούσαις), Ep. 323 (c.a. 818; addressed Μεγαλῷ καὶ Μαρίᾳ μοναζούσαις). They were both born of pious parents, were learned and were virgins; both were related to Theophanes 18 (unnamed) and were firm opponents of the iconoclasts; they are styled τῆς τιμιότητος ὑμῶν: Theod. Stud., Ep. 292. They had written to Theodoros 15 with news of the death of Theophanes 18; one of them is described as Theophanes 18's wife, the other as a relation of his wife: Theod. Stud., Ep. 323.

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