Synesius of Cyrene, Bishop of Ptolemais, was an early Christian philosopher, bishop, statesman, and poet born around 370 or 375 AD in Cyrene, North Africa. Descended from an ancient and noble lineage that, according to the historian Edward Gibbon, extended back seventeen centuries, Synesius pursued a rigorous education in philosophy and rhetoric. He studied in Alexandria under the famous Neoplatonist philosopher Hypatia, developing a deep appreciation for classical philosophy and literature that shaped his intellectual perspective throughout his life.

As a statesman and patriot, Synesius actively engaged in public life to protect his country from foreign invasion. When the Goths posed a growing threat to the Roman frontier, he travelled to the court of the Emperor Arcadius in Constantinople, where for three years he delivered eloquent appeals to rouse the court to the imperial crisis. Although his eloquence was praised, his strategic warnings were largely ignored by imperial officials. In 410 AD, despite his initial reluctance and personal doubts regarding certain doctrines, he was persuaded to accept ordination as Bishop of Ptolemais (the capital of Pentapolis in modern Libya) due to his public standing, leadership abilities, and moral authority.

Synesius's theological views have been a subject of scholarly debate among historians. While earlier commentators questioned his orthodoxy or suggested he was merely a Neoplatonist philosopher dressed in Christian office, his writings and sacred verse demonstrate a profound personal devotion to Christ. He expressed his spiritual journey through ten majestic Latin and Greek poetic odes, which blend classical meters with early Christian devotion.

His most famous and enduring contribution to global hymnody is his tenth ode, "Lord Jesus, think on me" (Mnáeo christé). Translated into English by Allen William Chatfield in 1876, the text serves as a humble, deeply personal prayer for cleansing, protection, spiritual illumination, and ultimate rest in Christ. The hymn passed into wide liturgical use across Anglican, Protestant, and Catholic traditions worldwide. Synesius served his diocese until his death around 430 AD, leaving behind a unique legacy that bridges late classical Neoplatonism with early Christian hymnody.