Gregory IV of Athens
Encyclopedia
Gregory IV, known as Grigor Gjirokastriti was an Albanian
scholar and cleric who became Archbishop of Athens in 1827–1829.
Gregory was born in Gjirokastër
in the mid to late-18th century. In ca. 1744 he was a teacher in the New Academy
, a famous educational institution in Moscopole
, a leading center of Greek culture at the time . In 1799 he was appointed bishop of Paramythia but remained in this position for only a few months. In 1799, while Patriarch of Constantinople was Gregory V, he was appointed Archbishop of Euboea
, also called "Bishop of Evripos". In the summer of 1821, when the Greek War of Independence
spread to Euboia, the Turks put him under detention until January 1823. When freed, he immediately put himself at the disposition of the Greek Revolutionary Government. In his letter to the High Parliament he thanks God for saving him from the hands of the "tyrants of the Nation", expresses his will to "do his best effort for everything for the benefit of Greece and especially for the people of this island (Euboea)" and requests the Parliament to use him "for everything that may be beneficial to the Homeland". It seems though, that before his detention Gregory had already been involved in the Revolution, because a good number of Epirots, and indeed many from Argyrokastro, had been fighting in Euboea. It is assumed by the historians that this is the reason that the Turks had arrested him.
Gregory kept on informing the central government on the situation in Euboea, but the government did not use him for the Revolution. By July 1823 the failure of Revolution in Euboea as well as the usurpation of his position by Bishop Neophytos of North Euboea, forced Gregory, among many others, to flee to Corfu retaining his title. In Corfu he translated the New Testament from ancient Greek to Albanian along with Vangjel Meksi
. This work was partially published in Corfu
in 1824 and fully in 1827. It contains both the Greek and the Albanian text, the latter printed in Greek letters, too.. Gjirokastriti divided the originally one volume edition of 839 pages into two volumes, considering it a more suitable solution because "Albanians kept the holy scriptures close to their chest". it For this work one of his biographers Kourilas considers Gregory as "the founder of the Albanian philology" adding that "...albanologists use this translation as basic text but they only mention his (Gregory's) name ... but nothing about his home country and life" (Kourilas, p. 349).
In 1827 he returned to Euboea and on 16 September he was appointed Archbishop of Athens and remained so until his death, in March 1828. He was buried in Chalkis, Euboea, in accordance to his will.
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
scholar and cleric who became Archbishop of Athens in 1827–1829.
Gregory was born in Gjirokastër
Gjirokastër
Gjirokastër is a city in southern Albania with a population of 43,000. Lying in the historical region of Epirus, it is the capital of both the Gjirokastër District and the larger Gjirokastër County...
in the mid to late-18th century. In ca. 1744 he was a teacher in the New Academy
New Academy (Moscopole)
The New Academy or Greek Academy was a renowned educational institution, operating from 1743 to 1769 in Moscopole, an 18th century cultural and commercial metropolis of the Aromanians and leading center of Greek culture in what is now southeastern Albania...
, a famous educational institution in Moscopole
Moscopole
Moscopole was a cultural and commercial center of the Aromanians, and now a small municipality in Korçë District, modern southeastern Albania. At its peak, in the mid 18th century, it hosted the first printing press in the Balkans outside Istanbul, educational institutions and numerous churches...
, a leading center of Greek culture at the time . In 1799 he was appointed bishop of Paramythia but remained in this position for only a few months. In 1799, while Patriarch of Constantinople was Gregory V, he was appointed Archbishop of Euboea
Euboea
Euboea is the second largest Greek island in area and population, after Crete. The narrow Euripus Strait separates it from Boeotia in mainland Greece. In general outline it is a long and narrow, seahorse-shaped island; it is about long, and varies in breadth from to...
, also called "Bishop of Evripos". In the summer of 1821, when the Greek War of Independence
Greek War of Independence
The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution was a successful war of independence waged by the Greek revolutionaries between...
spread to Euboia, the Turks put him under detention until January 1823. When freed, he immediately put himself at the disposition of the Greek Revolutionary Government. In his letter to the High Parliament he thanks God for saving him from the hands of the "tyrants of the Nation", expresses his will to "do his best effort for everything for the benefit of Greece and especially for the people of this island (Euboea)" and requests the Parliament to use him "for everything that may be beneficial to the Homeland". It seems though, that before his detention Gregory had already been involved in the Revolution, because a good number of Epirots, and indeed many from Argyrokastro, had been fighting in Euboea. It is assumed by the historians that this is the reason that the Turks had arrested him.
Gregory kept on informing the central government on the situation in Euboea, but the government did not use him for the Revolution. By July 1823 the failure of Revolution in Euboea as well as the usurpation of his position by Bishop Neophytos of North Euboea, forced Gregory, among many others, to flee to Corfu retaining his title. In Corfu he translated the New Testament from ancient Greek to Albanian along with Vangjel Meksi
Vangjel Meksi
Vangjel Meksi was an Albanian physician, writer, and translator. One-time personal physician to Ali Pasha, the 19th-century Albanian ruler of the Pashalik of Yanina, Meksi produced the first translation of the New Testament into Albanian with the help and sponsorship of the British and Foreign...
. This work was partially published in Corfu
Corfu
Corfu is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the second largest of the Ionian Islands, and, including its small satellite islands, forms the edge of the northwestern frontier of Greece. The island is part of the Corfu regional unit, and is administered as a single municipality. The...
in 1824 and fully in 1827. It contains both the Greek and the Albanian text, the latter printed in Greek letters, too.. Gjirokastriti divided the originally one volume edition of 839 pages into two volumes, considering it a more suitable solution because "Albanians kept the holy scriptures close to their chest". it For this work one of his biographers Kourilas considers Gregory as "the founder of the Albanian philology" adding that "...albanologists use this translation as basic text but they only mention his (Gregory's) name ... but nothing about his home country and life" (Kourilas, p. 349).
In 1827 he returned to Euboea and on 16 September he was appointed Archbishop of Athens and remained so until his death, in March 1828. He was buried in Chalkis, Euboea, in accordance to his will.
External links
- The New Testament (in Greek and Albanian)