Phrontisterion of Trapezous
Encyclopedia
The Phrontisterion of Trapezous was a Greek
educational institution that operated from 1682/3 to 1921 in Trabzon
(Gr. Τραπεζούς, Trapezous), in the Ottoman Empire
, now Turkey
. It provided a major impetus for the rapid expansion of Greek education throughout the Pontus
region, on the south coast of the Black Sea
. Its building still remains, and it has been considered as the most impressive Pontic Greek
monument in Trabzon.
, one of the successor states to the Byzantine Empire
, and the last Greek state to be annexed by the Ottomans
, in 1461. During the following centuries a strong Greek community
continued to live in the city and the Pontus
region.
, a forerunner of the modern Greek Enlightenment, in 1682/3 and became the most influential center of Greek education in Pontus
. The school was initially housed at the Sümela Monastery
, with its main goal being the cultivation of the national and religious identity of the local Greek communities. The school was supported by generous donations granted by wealthy Greek families, including the Velissarides and Kallivazis families, members of which controlled trade in most of the Black Sea Ports.
In 1817, Savvas Triantafyllidis became director of the Phrontisterion and the institution reached a higher level of educational standards as a result of the modern Greek Enlightenment. After 1839, and especially 1856, the Ottoman authorities allowed teachers that were trained in Athens
, Greece
to teach at the Phronstisterion. One of them, Periklis Triantafyllidis, the son of Savvas, taught classical philosophy and also recorded the local Greek dialect, Pontic Greek.
In 1902 the Phrontisterion was re-housed in a new, imposing building, which remains today as the most impressive Pontic Greek monument in Trabzon. It was a three-story building consisting of 36 classrooms, standing above the sea shore corniche of the city near the now destroyed Greek Orthodox Church of Gregory of Nyssa
and the Armenian Cathedral. The school closed in November 1921, during the Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922)
, while the following years the local Greek communities left the region as part of the population exchange between Greece and Turkey
. Today the building houses a Turkish school.
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....
educational institution that operated from 1682/3 to 1921 in Trabzon
Trabzon
Trabzon is a city on the Black Sea coast of north-eastern Turkey and the capital of Trabzon Province. Trabzon, located on the historical Silk Road, became a melting pot of religions, languages and culture for centuries and a trade gateway to Iran in the southeast and the Caucasus to the northeast...
(Gr. Τραπεζούς, Trapezous), in the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, now Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. It provided a major impetus for the rapid expansion of Greek education throughout the Pontus
Pontus
Pontus or Pontos is a historical Greek designation for a region on the southern coast of the Black Sea, located in modern-day northeastern Turkey. The name was applied to the coastal region in antiquity by the Greeks who colonized the area, and derived from the Greek name of the Black Sea: Πόντος...
region, on the south coast of the Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
. Its building still remains, and it has been considered as the most impressive Pontic Greek
Pontic Greeks
The Pontians are an ethnic group traditionally living in the Pontus region, the shores of Turkey's Black Sea...
monument in Trabzon.
Background
In the Middle Ages, Trabzon was the capital of the Empire of TrebizondEmpire of Trebizond
The Empire of Trebizond, founded in April 1204, was one of three Byzantine successor states of the Byzantine Empire. However, the creation of the Empire of Trebizond was not directly related to the capture of Constantinople by the Fourth Crusade, rather it had broken away from the Byzantine Empire...
, one of the successor states to the Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
, and the last Greek state to be annexed by the Ottomans
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, in 1461. During the following centuries a strong Greek community
Pontic Greeks
The Pontians are an ethnic group traditionally living in the Pontus region, the shores of Turkey's Black Sea...
continued to live in the city and the Pontus
Pontus
Pontus or Pontos is a historical Greek designation for a region on the southern coast of the Black Sea, located in modern-day northeastern Turkey. The name was applied to the coastal region in antiquity by the Greeks who colonized the area, and derived from the Greek name of the Black Sea: Πόντος...
region.
History
The school was founded by Sevastos KyminitisSevastos Kyminitis
Sevastos Kiminitis or Sebastos Kyminites was a Pontic Greek scholar who was born in a village close to Τrebizond, Pontus in 1630. He was principal of the Patriarchal Academy in Constantinople in the years 1671-1682. He left Constantinople in 1682 and moved to Τrebizond where he founded a Greek...
, a forerunner of the modern Greek Enlightenment, in 1682/3 and became the most influential center of Greek education in Pontus
Pontus
Pontus or Pontos is a historical Greek designation for a region on the southern coast of the Black Sea, located in modern-day northeastern Turkey. The name was applied to the coastal region in antiquity by the Greeks who colonized the area, and derived from the Greek name of the Black Sea: Πόντος...
. The school was initially housed at the Sümela Monastery
Sumela Monastery
The Sümela Monastery , , i.e. monastery of the Panaghia at Melá mountain) is a Greek Orthodox monastery, standing at the foot of a steep cliff facing the Altındere valley, in the region of Maçka in Trabzon Province, modern Turkey...
, with its main goal being the cultivation of the national and religious identity of the local Greek communities. The school was supported by generous donations granted by wealthy Greek families, including the Velissarides and Kallivazis families, members of which controlled trade in most of the Black Sea Ports.
In 1817, Savvas Triantafyllidis became director of the Phrontisterion and the institution reached a higher level of educational standards as a result of the modern Greek Enlightenment. After 1839, and especially 1856, the Ottoman authorities allowed teachers that were trained in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, Greece
Kingdom of Greece
The Kingdom of Greece was a state established in 1832 in the Convention of London by the Great Powers...
to teach at the Phronstisterion. One of them, Periklis Triantafyllidis, the son of Savvas, taught classical philosophy and also recorded the local Greek dialect, Pontic Greek.
In 1902 the Phrontisterion was re-housed in a new, imposing building, which remains today as the most impressive Pontic Greek monument in Trabzon. It was a three-story building consisting of 36 classrooms, standing above the sea shore corniche of the city near the now destroyed Greek Orthodox Church of Gregory of Nyssa
Gregory of Nyssa
St. Gregory of Nyssa was a Christian bishop and saint. He was a younger brother of Basil the Great and a good friend of Gregory of Nazianzus. His significance has long been recognized in the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Eastern Catholic and Roman Catholic branches of Christianity...
and the Armenian Cathedral. The school closed in November 1921, during the Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922)
Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922)
The Greco–Turkish War of 1919–1922, known as the Western Front of the Turkish War of Independence in Turkey and the Asia Minor Campaign or the Asia Minor Catastrophe in Greece, was a series of military events occurring during the partitioning of the Ottoman Empire after World War I between May...
, while the following years the local Greek communities left the region as part of the population exchange between Greece and Turkey
Population exchange between Greece and Turkey
The 1923 population exchange between Greece and Turkey was based upon religious identity, and involved the Greek Orthodox citizens of Turkey and the Muslim citizens of Greece...
. Today the building houses a Turkish school.
Further reading
- Αντώνη Υ. Παυλίδη. Το Φροντιστήριο Τραπεζούντας (1900-1914) και η ιδεολογική κυριαρχία των Ελλήνων στον Πόντο. Περιοδικού «Αρχείον Πόντου», παράρτημα 24. Κοινωνία και Εκπαίδευση. (in Greek)