Born: Circa 375, Balagrae, near Cyrene (now Bayda, Libya).
Known as a statesman and patriot, Synesius was made Bishop of Ptolemaïs by popular demand in 410.
He wrote a number of odes, only one of which has come into common usage as a hymn.
If you know where to get a good picture of Synesius (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),