Methodios Anthrakites
Encyclopedia
Methodios Anthrakites was a Greek
scholar, priest and director of the Gioumeios and Epiphaneios Schools in Ioannina
. He made a significant contribution in the growth of Greek Enlightenment (Diafotismos) during the Ottoman occupation of Greece
.
region (Epirus
). He studied in the Gioumeios (later Balaneios) School in Ioannina
under Georgios Sougdouris
. After becoming a priest, he left for Venice
in 1697, where he studied Philosophy and Mathematics (geometry, trigonometry, astronomy and physics). His stay in Venice
lasted until 1708, during which period he was priest at the San Giorgio dei Greci
. He returned to Greece
in 1708 to become the first director of the Ierospoudasterion, a new school founded in Kastoria
in Macedonia
with a benefaction from Georgios Kastriotis, a wealthy Greek from Kastoria
, living in Wallachia. There he focused on teaching contemporary European philosophy and mathematics.
In his book “The Way of Mathematics”, later edited and re-printed by his student Balanos Vasilopoulos
, Anthrakites referred to the Copernican heliocentric system, although he supported the geocentric system. His teachings were regarded as unusual enough at the time to give rise to suspicion in Church circles. Anthrakites resigned from the Ierospoudasterion in 1718 and moved to Siatista
, also in Macedonia, where he taught for another two years. He returned to Kastoria
and in 1723 appeared before the Bishop of Achris
Ioasaph to defend his Christian faith. After that journey he moved back to Ioannina
where he became director of the Gioumeios.
On 23 August 1723, the Patriarchate of Constantinople formally accused him for heresy
as a “Cartesianist” and issued a condemnation of his teachings. Anthrakites was also suspended (“unfrocked”) from the Church. Scholars from Ioannina
protested the decision to the bishop of Nikopolis Paisios. Subsequently Anthrakites went to Constantinople
, where he publicly burned his manuscripts after defending himself at the Orthodox Synod
. He was restored but was forbidden from teaching anything other than accepted theological doctrine. From 1725 he became director of the Epiphaneios School in Ioannina
, probably until his death in 1736.
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
scholar, priest and director of the Gioumeios and Epiphaneios Schools in Ioannina
Ioannina
Ioannina , often called Jannena within Greece, is the largest city of Epirus, north-western Greece, with a population of 70,203 . It lies at an elevation of approximately 500 meters above sea level, on the western shore of lake Pamvotis . It is located within the Ioannina municipality, and is the...
. He made a significant contribution in the growth of Greek Enlightenment (Diafotismos) during the Ottoman occupation of Greece
Ottoman Greece
Most of Greece gradually became part of the Ottoman Empire from the 15th century until its declaration of independence in 1821, a historical period also known as Tourkokratia ....
.
Life
Anthrakites was born in the village of Kaminia or Kamnia, in the ZagoriZagori
Zagori , is a region and a municipality in the Pindus mountains in Epirus, in northwestern Greece. The seat of the municipality is the village Asprangeloi. It has an area of some 1,000 square kilometres and contains 45 villages known as Zagoria , and is in the shape of an upturned equilateral...
region (Epirus
Epirus
The name Epirus, from the Greek "Ήπειρος" meaning continent may refer to:-Geographical:* Epirus - a historical and geographical region of the southwestern Balkans, straddling modern Greece and Albania...
). He studied in the Gioumeios (later Balaneios) School in Ioannina
Ioannina
Ioannina , often called Jannena within Greece, is the largest city of Epirus, north-western Greece, with a population of 70,203 . It lies at an elevation of approximately 500 meters above sea level, on the western shore of lake Pamvotis . It is located within the Ioannina municipality, and is the...
under Georgios Sougdouris
Georgios Sougdouris
Georgios Sougdouris was a Greek philosopher and theologian.Sougdouris was born in Ioannina, northwestern Greece, where he finished ground level studies. He continued his studies in Venice and Padua. In 1681 Sougdouris became a priest and two years later the head of the Goumas school in Ioannina,...
. After becoming a priest, he left for Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
in 1697, where he studied Philosophy and Mathematics (geometry, trigonometry, astronomy and physics). His stay in Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
lasted until 1708, during which period he was priest at the San Giorgio dei Greci
San Giorgio dei Greci
San Giorgio dei Greci is a church in the sestiere or neighborhood of Castello, Venice, northern Italy. It was the center of the Scuola dei Greci, the Confraternity of the Greeks in Venice....
. He returned to Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
in 1708 to become the first director of the Ierospoudasterion, a new school founded in Kastoria
Kastoria
Kastoria is a city in northern Greece in the periphery of West Macedonia. It is the capital of Kastoria peripheral unit. It is situated on a promontory on the western shore of Lake Orestiada, in a valley surrounded by limestone mountains...
in Macedonia
Macedonia (region)
Macedonia is a geographical and historical region of the Balkan peninsula in southeastern Europe. Its boundaries have changed considerably over time, but nowadays the region is considered to include parts of five Balkan countries: Greece, the Republic of Macedonia, Bulgaria, Albania, Serbia, as...
with a benefaction from Georgios Kastriotis, a wealthy Greek from Kastoria
Kastoria
Kastoria is a city in northern Greece in the periphery of West Macedonia. It is the capital of Kastoria peripheral unit. It is situated on a promontory on the western shore of Lake Orestiada, in a valley surrounded by limestone mountains...
, living in Wallachia. There he focused on teaching contemporary European philosophy and mathematics.
In his book “The Way of Mathematics”, later edited and re-printed by his student Balanos Vasilopoulos
Balanos Vasilopoulos
Balanos Vasilopoulos was a Greek scholar, cleric and author. He made a significant contribution in the growth of Greek Enlightenment during the Ottoman occupation of the Greek world.-Life:...
, Anthrakites referred to the Copernican heliocentric system, although he supported the geocentric system. His teachings were regarded as unusual enough at the time to give rise to suspicion in Church circles. Anthrakites resigned from the Ierospoudasterion in 1718 and moved to Siatista
Siatista
Siatista is a town and a former municipality in Kozani peripheral unit, West Macedonia, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Voio, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. It lies 28 km southwest of the city Kozani. It was built on the austral...
, also in Macedonia, where he taught for another two years. He returned to Kastoria
Kastoria
Kastoria is a city in northern Greece in the periphery of West Macedonia. It is the capital of Kastoria peripheral unit. It is situated on a promontory on the western shore of Lake Orestiada, in a valley surrounded by limestone mountains...
and in 1723 appeared before the Bishop of Achris
Ohrid
Ohrid is a city on the eastern shore of Lake Ohrid in the Republic of Macedonia. It has about 42,000 inhabitants, making it the seventh largest city in the country. The city is the seat of Ohrid Municipality. Ohrid is notable for having once had 365 churches, one for each day of the year and has...
Ioasaph to defend his Christian faith. After that journey he moved back to Ioannina
Ioannina
Ioannina , often called Jannena within Greece, is the largest city of Epirus, north-western Greece, with a population of 70,203 . It lies at an elevation of approximately 500 meters above sea level, on the western shore of lake Pamvotis . It is located within the Ioannina municipality, and is the...
where he became director of the Gioumeios.
On 23 August 1723, the Patriarchate of Constantinople formally accused him for heresy
Heresy
Heresy is a controversial or novel change to a system of beliefs, especially a religion, that conflicts with established dogma. It is distinct from apostasy, which is the formal denunciation of one's religion, principles or cause, and blasphemy, which is irreverence toward religion...
as a “Cartesianist” and issued a condemnation of his teachings. Anthrakites was also suspended (“unfrocked”) from the Church. Scholars from Ioannina
Ioannina
Ioannina , often called Jannena within Greece, is the largest city of Epirus, north-western Greece, with a population of 70,203 . It lies at an elevation of approximately 500 meters above sea level, on the western shore of lake Pamvotis . It is located within the Ioannina municipality, and is the...
protested the decision to the bishop of Nikopolis Paisios. Subsequently Anthrakites went to Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
, where he publicly burned his manuscripts after defending himself at the Orthodox Synod
Synod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
. He was restored but was forbidden from teaching anything other than accepted theological doctrine. From 1725 he became director of the Epiphaneios School in Ioannina
Ioannina
Ioannina , often called Jannena within Greece, is the largest city of Epirus, north-western Greece, with a population of 70,203 . It lies at an elevation of approximately 500 meters above sea level, on the western shore of lake Pamvotis . It is located within the Ioannina municipality, and is the...
, probably until his death in 1736.
His work
Some of his manuscripts have been lost because of his excommunication. His known works are:- Επίσκεψις Πνευματική “Spiritual Visitation“, Venice, 1707
- Βοσκός λογικών προβάτων “Shepherd of rational sheep“, Venice, 1708,
- Θεωρίαι χριστιανικαί και ψυχοφελείς νουθεσίαι “Christian Theories and Spiritual Advises“, Venice, 1708
- Οδός Μαθηματική “The Way of Mathematics” (edited Balanos Vasilopoulos), Venice, 1749
- Λογική ελάττων “Lesser Logic”, 1953
- Εισαγωγή της Λογικής “Introduction to Logic”, (manuscript)
- Λόγος εις τον προφήτην Ηλίαν ”Sermon on Prophetes Elias“, (manuscript).