Cosmas the Monk
Encyclopedia
Cosmas the Monk was a monk from Sicily
(hence also known as Cosmas the Sicilian), best known as the tutor of John of Damascus
and Cosmas of Maiuma.
Any knowledge of Cosmas comes from the notably unreliable tenth-century hagiography of John of Damascus. Apparently, John's father met Cosmas, a Sicilian who knew Greek
, on the shores of Italy when the latter was about to be executed. He was crying loudly and when asked why a monk would cry in the face of death, answered that he was bemoaning the loss of the knowledge he had gathered, "for he knew nearly everything under the sun." In response, John's father (a judge) had him released and appointed him as tutor for his son.
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
(hence also known as Cosmas the Sicilian), best known as the tutor of John of Damascus
John of Damascus
Saint John of Damascus was a Syrian monk and priest...
and Cosmas of Maiuma.
Any knowledge of Cosmas comes from the notably unreliable tenth-century hagiography of John of Damascus. Apparently, John's father met Cosmas, a Sicilian who knew Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
, on the shores of Italy when the latter was about to be executed. He was crying loudly and when asked why a monk would cry in the face of death, answered that he was bemoaning the loss of the knowledge he had gathered, "for he knew nearly everything under the sun." In response, John's father (a judge) had him released and appointed him as tutor for his son.