g to an
earlier date than the age of the grandparents of the Emperor John
Comnenus. But while the connection of the church with those personages
must not be overlooked, the building underwent such extensive repairs in
the thirteenth century that the honour of being its founder was
transferred to its restorer at that period. Pachymeres[217] speaks of
the monastery as the monastery of Michael Glabas Tarchaniotes ([Greek:
ten idian monen]). While the poet Philes (1275-1346), referring to a
figure portrayed on the walls of the church, asks the spectator,

Seest thou, O stranger, this great man? He is none other than
the protostrator, the builder of this monastery, the wonder of the
world, the noble Glabas.

[Greek: horas ton andra ton polyn touton, xene;
ekeinos houtos estin ho protostrator,
ho demiourgos tes mones tes enthade,
to thauma tes ges, ho Glabas ho gennadas].[218]

In accordance with these statements, Gerlach[219] saw depicted on the
walls of the church two figures in archducal attire, representing the
founder of the church and his wife, with this legend beside them:

Michael Ducas Glabas Tarchaniotes, protostrator and founder;
Maria Ducaena Comnena Palaeologina Blachena,[219] protostratorissa
and foundress.

[Greek: Michael Doukas Glabas Tarchaniotes, ho protostrator kai ktetor;
Maria Doukaina Komnene Palaiologina Blakaina,[220] he protostratorissa
kai ktetorissa].

Michael Glabas was created protostrator in 1292, and acquired the right
to appoint the abbot of the monastery before 1295. Consequently the
completion of the repair of the church at his instance must be assigned
to the interval between these dates.

The protostrator Michael Glabas Ducas Tarchaniotes, who must not be
confounded with his namesake the protovestiarius Michael Palaeologus
Tarchaniotes,[221] enjoyed the reputation of an able general and wise
counsellor in the reign of Andronicus II., although, being a victim to
gout, he was often unable to serve his country in the former capacity.
He was noted also for his piety and his interest in the poor, as may be
inferred from his restoration of the Pammakaristos and the erection of a
xenodocheion.[222] His wife was a niece of the Emperor Michael
Palaeologus, and related, as her titles imply, to other great families
in the country. A pious woman, and devoted to her husband, she proved
the sincerity of her affection by erecting to his memory, as will appear
in the se