BELETH, Giovanni. – Theologian, professor, and rector of the University of Paris, possibly of English origin, d. 1182.
II – Trithemius (c. 415) recalls his *Sermones*, Pitheous a *Gemma animae*, others praise his erudition in the Holy Scriptures. His principal work is the *Divinorum officiorum explicatio* (between 1161-65), also called *Rationale div. off.* (e.g., PL 202, 167), often being united with Durandus’ *Rationale div. off.* (e.g., in the Lyon edition of 1612): it is a considerable explanation of the liturgy of his time, with generally precise notions on the divine office, the Mass, the Church year, sacred places, and the minister of worship. The printed text differs greatly from the text of the numerous manuscript codices found in the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris.