BLASTARES, MATTHEO. — A Greek canonist of the 14th century and a Basilian monk. His principal work is the Syntagma, which comprises 24 sections marked by the 24 letters of the alphabet, written ca. 1335. Each section contains the provisions of the sacred canons together with those of civil law. The sections are divided into 303 titles and chapters, also alphabetical.
Known in the West since the 16th century, the Syntagma was published in its entirety by Beveridge in his Syndicon. The Greek text of Rhaules and Potles is edited in PG 190, with Beveridge’s corrected version. The Syntagma exercised an influential consideration on the legislation of the Slavic peoples. Translated into Serbian soon after its appearance, it entered Bulgaria in the 15th century and Russia in the first half of the 16th century.