Scuola dei Greci
Encyclopedia
The Scuola dei Greci is the cultural and religious center of the Greek community in Venice
.
The Venetian Scuole were confraternities formed by ethnic or religious groups that lived in the city during the Renaissance. They provided an environment for the social, cultural and religious activities of their members.
The Greek minority was present in Venice since the 13th century, but increased greatly in the 15th and 16th c. after the fall of Constantinople
and the Ottoman expansion in the former Byzantine Empire
lands.
On November 28, 1494, the Greeks received permission to establish a "Scuola e Nazione greca", one of the "Scuole Piccole" and "Scuole Nazionali" of Venice. Initially there was a stipulation that membership should not exceed the 250 persons, apart from women and children. The Scuola had a constitution with provisions for voting procedures, representation, and the formation of a council. In 1563 the number of the councillors, the governing body of the colony, was set at forty and later, still higher. The officials, headed by a president Gastaldo, were salaried by the community but were under the supervision of the Venetian government. The success of the Greek community in securing formal recognition from the Venetian government was probably due in large part to the increasing dependence of the Venetian state on the military services of the Stratioti
.
The Greeks initially were using catholic churches for their gatherings, until Venice granted them the permission to settle permanently and build in the Castello area in 1456. The Greek community was well accepted by the city largely because of the education and the ideas they brought.
They built the church of San Giorgio dei Greci
and formed the
Scuola di San Nicolo dei Greci (or Scuola dei Greci), as well as the Flanginian School
.
This Scuola was one of the few Venetian Scuole around which an entire community developed. Around the Church of San Giorgio other buildings and rooms were built for the meetings of the Confraternity.
The Scuola had a central role in the development of the Venezian and Italian typography. Among the members of the Scuola were Greek scholars who brought with them from Constantinople classical manuscripts, established typographies around the Greek neighborhood and acted as editors, translators, correctors, authors and type-designers.
After the fall of the Venice Republic all of the Confraternities were officially closed by a Napoleon edict of 1806. The Scuola funds and many of its precious objects and treasuries had been confiscated.
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...
.
The Venetian Scuole were confraternities formed by ethnic or religious groups that lived in the city during the Renaissance. They provided an environment for the social, cultural and religious activities of their members.
The Greek minority was present in Venice since the 13th century, but increased greatly in the 15th and 16th c. after the fall of 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:...
and the Ottoman expansion in the former 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...
lands.
On November 28, 1494, the Greeks received permission to establish a "Scuola e Nazione greca", one of the "Scuole Piccole" and "Scuole Nazionali" of Venice. Initially there was a stipulation that membership should not exceed the 250 persons, apart from women and children. The Scuola had a constitution with provisions for voting procedures, representation, and the formation of a council. In 1563 the number of the councillors, the governing body of the colony, was set at forty and later, still higher. The officials, headed by a president Gastaldo, were salaried by the community but were under the supervision of the Venetian government. The success of the Greek community in securing formal recognition from the Venetian government was probably due in large part to the increasing dependence of the Venetian state on the military services of the Stratioti
Stratioti
The Stratioti or Stradioti , were mercenary units from the Balkans recruited mainly by states of southern and central Europe from the 15th until the middle of the 18th century.-Name:The Greek term "στρατιώτης/-αι" and its various latinized forms, were in use since classical antiquity with...
.
The Greeks initially were using catholic churches for their gatherings, until Venice granted them the permission to settle permanently and build in the Castello area in 1456. The Greek community was well accepted by the city largely because of the education and the ideas they brought.
They built the church of 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....
and formed the
Scuola di San Nicolo dei Greci (or Scuola dei Greci), as well as the Flanginian School
Flanginian School
The Flanginian School was a Greek educational institution that operated in Venice, Italy, from 1664-1665 to 1905. The Flanginian produced several teachers that contributed to the modern Greek Enlightenment of the 17th and 18th centuries.-Background:...
.
This Scuola was one of the few Venetian Scuole around which an entire community developed. Around the Church of San Giorgio other buildings and rooms were built for the meetings of the Confraternity.
The Scuola had a central role in the development of the Venezian and Italian typography. Among the members of the Scuola were Greek scholars who brought with them from Constantinople classical manuscripts, established typographies around the Greek neighborhood and acted as editors, translators, correctors, authors and type-designers.
After the fall of the Venice Republic all of the Confraternities were officially closed by a Napoleon edict of 1806. The Scuola funds and many of its precious objects and treasuries had been confiscated.