1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Theophylact

THEOPHYLACT (d. c. 1110), biblical commentator, was born most probably at Euripus, in Euboea, about the middle of the 11th century. He became a deacon at Constantinople, attained a high reputation as a scholar, and became the tutor of Constantine Porphyrogenitus, son of the Emperor Michael VII., for whom he wrote The Education of Princes (Παιδεία βασιλική). About 1078 he went into Bulgaria as archbishop of Achrida. In his letters he complains much of the rude manners of the Bulgarians, and he sought to be relieved of his office, but apparently without success. His death took place after 1107.

His commentaries on the Gospels, Acts, the Pauline epistles and the Minor Prophets are founded on those of Chrysostom, but deserve the considerable place they hold in exegetical literature for their appositeness, sobriety, accuracy and judiciousness. His other extant works include 130 letters and various homilies and orations and other minor pieces. A careful edition of nearly all his writings, in Greek and Latin, with a preliminary dissertation, was published in 1754–63 by J. F. B. M. de Rossi (4 vols. fol., Venice).

See Krumbacher, Byzantinische Litteraturgeschichte (2nd ed. 1897), pp. 132, 463.