Wikipedia

Chrysanthus of Jerusalem

Chrysanthus Notaras (Greek: Χρύσανθος Νοταράς; 1655/1660 – February 7, 1731), also known as Chrysanthus of Jerusalem, was Patriarch of Jerusalem[1] (February 19, 1707 – February 7, 1731)[2] and a scholar in Eastern Orthodoxy. He was a mathematician, astronomer, geographer, and author. He is known for creating modern maps in the Greek language. He was one of Giovanni Domenico Cassini's students. He also built astronomical equipment.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]

His Beatitude
Chrysanthus of Jerusalem
Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem
In office
1707–1731
Preceded byDositheos II Notaras
Succeeded byMeletius
Personal details
Born
Chrysanthus Notaras

1655 (1655)
Arachova, Aigialeia, Achaea
DiedFebruary 7, 1731(1731-02-07) (aged 75–76)
Jerusalem
Resting placeJerusalem
NationalityGreek
Alma materUniversity of Padua
Paris Observatory
Known for
Scientific career
FieldsAstronomy, mathematics
InstitutionsParis Observatory
Doctoral advisorGiovanni Domenico Cassini

Biography

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Binakas Geographikos, Crysanthus Notaras, Padova, 1700. The first post-Byzantine map in Greek

He was born in Arachova, Achaea. He was a member of the same family as his predecessor, Dositheos II Notaras and Macarius of Corinth, Metropolitan of Corinth. He is known for spreading Astronomy in the early eighteenth century. Chysanthos Notaras was Patriarch of Jerusalem (1707–1731). He was one of the most educated Greeks of his time. He was educated in the traditional Orthodox dogma. He learned natural philosophy, mathematics, and theology at the University of Padua. He continued his education in Paris. While in Paris he met liberal theologians, such as Louis Ellies Dupin, Noël Alexandre, and Michel Le Quien. He also met astronomer Giovanni Domenico Cassini. He became his student. He studied Astronomy, Geodesy, and Geography (1700). Cassini was the Director of Paris Observatory. Chrysanthus served as an observer. He also built astronomical instruments, under Cassini's supervision.[11][12]

Notaras's interests in the mathematical sciences continued throughout his life. His main interests were astronomy and geodesy. He helped create new schools. He believed scientific teaching was important. He promoted formal scientific education. He printed a book called Introduction to Geometry and Spherics. The book did not feature the heliocentric system. He introduced new methods of accuracy in measurement. He was aware of the heliocentric system, although he himself wrote about the geocentric Ptolemaic system following Korydalism. In its opposition to the Copernican system, it does not use theological objections and arguments, but the most substantial objection adopted by scientists during the 16th century. It exposes objectively and over time other views of ancient and modern astronomers as to which system is most suitable for explaining the motions of the planets. He mentions that the Pythagoreans suggested the movement of the Earth and makes special mention of Aristarchus the Samian. Chrysanthos Notaras included an astronomy curriculum at the schools of the Holy Sepulchre.[13][14]

In 1892, the professor of Mathematics G.A. Arvanitakis, in the olive mill of the monastery where the Theological School of the Cross in Jerusalem was housed discovered a double astrolabe that bore the inscription:

This instrument was made by the monk Chrysanthos under the direction of Cassini for his brothers in Jerusalem, in order to worship God in his works .[15][16][17]

Chrysanthos was particularly interested in astronomy and astronomical instruments. He procured several astronomical instruments and telescopes from European cities and even built some of them himself.[18]

Both Greek and Italian education was very strict at the time. Korydalism was the only approved education. Heliocentrism was illegal. Galileo's books were on the forbidden list by the Index Librorum Prohibitorum. The Galileo affair and the Greek equivalent, the Methodios Affair were both indications that the church was not ready to accept new ideas. Notaras took many risks but due to his hi-level in the church, he was able to explore scientific advancement much further than Methodios Anthrakites. He did not formally publish a book about the heliocentric system. His book featured diagrams following the heliocentric model. Although the 1758 edition of the Index removed the general prohibition of works advocating heliocentrism, the system did not become accepted in academia until the 19th century.[19]

Literary works

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Books and Articles authored by Chrysanthus of Jerusalem
Date Title Title in English
1716 Εισαγωγή Εις τα Γεωγραφικά και Σφαιρικά Introduction to Geometry and Spherics
1724 Διδασκαλία Teaching
1728 Ιστορία και Περιγραφή της Αγίας Γής History and Description of the Holy Land

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Jerusalem Patriarchate website, Apostolic Succession section
  2. ^ Google Books website, Arab Orthodox Christians Under the Ottomans 1516-1831 (Appendix: Patriarchs and the Sultans), by Constantin Alexandrovich Panchenko
  3. ^ Rovithis, P. (July 5, 1997). "Chrysanthos Notaras as an Astronomer". Joint European and National Astronomical Meeting. The SAO/NASA Astrophysics Data System: 337. Bibcode:1997jena.confE.337R. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  4. ^ Gavroglu, K. (1999). The Sciences in the European Periphery During the Enlightenment Volume 2. Netherlands: Springer Science Business Media. p. 52. ISBN 9789401147705.
  5. ^ Lowden, John (2009). The Jaharis Gospel Lectionary: The Story of a Byzantine Book. New York, NY: Metropolitan Museum of Art. p. 9. ISBN 9781588393432.
  6. ^ Saraiva, Luís (2013). Europe and China Science and Arts in the 17th and 18th Centuries. Singapore: World Scientific. p. 169. ISBN 9789814390439.
  7. ^ Roca-Rosell, Antoni (2012). The Circulation of science and technology Proceedings of the 4th International Conference of the European Society for the History of Science : Barcelona, 18-20 November 2010. Barcelona, Spain: Institut d'Estudis Catalans. pp. 20–21. ISBN 9788499651088.
  8. ^ Fehige, Yiftach (2016). Science and Religion: East and West. New York, NY: Rutledge Taylor and Francis Group. pp. 221–225. ISBN 9781138961364.
  9. ^ Nikolaidis, Petros & Dionysis, P (2018). The Contribution of the Patriarch of Jerusalem Chrysanthou Notara (1660--1731) the Ethical Cultivation of Science and Pastoral Approach (Greek) (PDF). Thessaloniki, Greece: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki - School of Theology.
  10. ^ George Tolias (October 6, 2021). "Χρύσανθος Νοταράς". Institute for Neohellenic Research. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  11. ^ Rovithis, P., 1997, p. 1
  12. ^ Efthymios Nicolaidis, Eudoxie Delli, Nikolaos Livanos, Kostas Tampakis, and George Vlahakis (September 1, 2016). "Science and Orthodox Christianity: An Overview". Isis. 107 (3). The University of Chicago Press Journals: 542–566. doi:10.1086/688704. PMID 28707856. S2CID 34598125. Retrieved May 11, 2021.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ Rovithis, P., 1997, p. 1
  14. ^ Nicolaidis, E., 2016, p. 558
  15. ^ Rovithis, P., 1997, p. 1
  16. ^ Nicolaidis, E., 2016, p. 558
  17. ^ Σχολές του ευρύτερου Ελληνισμού επί Τουρκοκρατίας: «Η Αυθεντική Ακαδημία Βουκουρεστίου», Δημήτριος Παπαϊωάννου Archived 2009-05-04 at the Wayback Machine, 4-6 Οκτωβρίου 2002, 2ο Διεθνές Συνέδριο: Η παιδεία στην αυγή του 21ου αιώνα. Ιστορικοσυγκριτικές προσεγγίσεις
  18. ^ Nicolaidis, E., 2016, p. 558
  19. ^ Fehige 2016, pp. 221-225
Religious titles
Preceded by Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem
1707–1731 		Succeeded by
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