BALSAMON, TEODORO. - One of the best-known canonists of the dissident Greek Church, born around the middle of the twelfth century in Costantinopoli and died there after 1195. Having entered the clergy of the great Church while still young, he obtained the offices of monophylax and chartophylax. Around 1193 he was elected bishop of Antiochia, of which, however, he never took possession.
At the urging of Emperor Manuele Comneno and of the patriarch of Costantinopoli, Michele Anchialo, he wrote, ca. 1170, in fourteen titles, a voluminous Commentary on the Syntagma or Collection.
This work comprises two parts: the collection of the Sacred Canons and their explanation (PG 137 and 138), and the interpretation of the Nomocanon (ibid. 104, 975-1218).
It is impossible to understand why the editors published separately the two parts, which constitute one and the same work. Under the heading of the canons appear the Apostolic Canons, the decrees of general and particular councils, and certain letters of the Fathers of the Church. To the Novels of Giustiniano and the Basilics, he adds various laws of the emperors and decrees of the patriarchs subsequently promulgated.
Among his other works, the following deserve mention: Eight meditations or Responses (PG 119); Response to 74 canonical questions put by Marco, patriarch of Alessandria (ibid. 112 and 138); Commentary on the questions of certain monks (ibid. 138).