Georgios Scholarios

Georgios Scholarios

 

Born circa 1405, in Constantinople; died shortly after 1472. Byzantine churchman.

Georgios Scholarios received a classical education and was familiar with Latin scholastic literature (he translated Thomas Aquinas, for example). He held the posts of judge and imperial secretary. At the Council of Florence (1438-45) he supported union with the Catholic Church. In 1443-44 he came out against the union, which led to his break with the government. Under Emperor Constantine XI (ruled, 1449-53), Georgios Scholarios was forced to become a monk under the name of Gennadius. He again criticized the union when it was renewed in 1452. After the fall of Constantinople in 1453, Georgios Scholarios fell into the hands of the Turks. Under the Ottoman Empire, he was patriarch of Constantinople in 1454-56, 1462-63, and 1464-65. He was also the author of many theological works, as well as commentaries to Aristotle and Porphyry. Georgios Scholarios was an opponent of the Byzantine humanists, especially Plethon.

A. P. KAZHDAN