Michael Psellos on the ‘Usual’ Miracle at Blachernae, the Law, and Neoplatonism

Abstract

Michael Psellos the lawyer, the philosopher, and the Byzantine insider presents his multifaceted persona to excellent effect in his lengthy tOration on the Miracle That Occurred at the Church of the Blachernai.t The oration includes a vivid and detailed account of the miracle as well as a learned Neoplatonic explication of it. According to the system revealed by Neoplatonism, the full presence of the Virgin in her icon at Blachernai once it became 'ensouled' required that the material substance of the icon acknowledge her divinity; the occurrence of the miracle, whatever it might have been, was the manifestation of her presence to the extent that limited human understanding could grasp it. Pselloshas also created a vivid drama worthy of Euripides and a thorough analysis of laws relevant to any potential appeal of the outcome of the case and demonstrated the application of Neoplatonic doctrines to the occurrence of the miracle. Keywords:Blachernae; Byzantine perspective; Euripides; Michael Psellos; miracle; neoplatonism; Virgin Mary