New Academy (Moscopole)
Encyclopedia
The New Academy or Greek Academy was a renowned educational institution, operating from 1743 to 1769 in Moscopole
, an 18th century cultural and commercial metropolis of the Aromanians
and leading center of Greek
culture in what is now southeastern Albania
. It was nicknamed the 'worthiest jewel of the city' and played a very active role in the inception of the modern Greek Enlightenment movement.
. It became a center of Greek culture
, with Greek
being the language of education in the local schools, as well as the language of the books published by the local printing house, founded either in 1720 or in 1731. Seemingly it was the second printing press founded in the Ottoman Empire
, after the also Greek printing press in Istambul. Education was so actively promoted, that the city emerged as a leading center of Greek intellectual activity.
An educational institution, called The Greek College, was active in the city as early as 1710. Its first director, Chrysanthos, was a monk from Zitsa
, while, in 1724, Ioannina
born scholar, Nicolaos Stigmis, became schoolmaster. After 1730 and for a short period, Ioannis Chalkeus
an Aristotelian philosopher also taught in the school. During that time the teaching staff included scholars from various ethnic backgrounds: Aromanian, Greek and Albanian.
, a scholar and priest from Kastoria
(now Greece
), was put in charge. It was during his directorate that the school was upgraded and endowed with additional classes. In 1744 the school was named New Academy and in 1750 it was re-housed in a new, imposing building. In accordance to 18th-century Greek educational mores, a school could only acquire the title 'Academy
' if it achieved a higher standard of educational quality and prestige. Similar educational insistutions this period were operating in a number of urban center in the Ottoman Empire: Bucharest, Iaşi, Ioannina
, Istanbul
(Constantinople).
It was also alternatively called Ellinikon Frontistirion ( Greek College). In 1750 Theodore Kavalliotis
, already a member of the teaching staff since 1743, became the headmaster of the New Academy. Kavalliotis was instrumental in establishing the reputation of the Academy, which, under his direction, reached its floruit. Becoming the virtual soul of the Academy, Kavalliotis taught grammar, poetry
, philosophical disciplines, and theology
. Moreover, with the purpose of meeting class needs, he wrote a number of introductory manuals in Greek, as well as treatises and other material, necessary for teaching, many of which are still preserved in unpublished manuscripts.
Apart from Kavalliotis, another teacher of the New Academy was the owner of the Academy’s printing press, Gregory Konstantinidis (not to be confused with Gregory of Durrës), who was also responsible for the printing of the books that were taught. He taught from 1745 to 1748. The printing house had notably close ties to the Monastery of Saint Naum, near Ohrid
. Notably 19 publications from Moscopole's printing press, mainly religious ones, appeared after 1760. The last known publication of the press was the Introduction to Grammar by Kavalliotis.
bands in 1769. Although the city never rose to its former glory, a new Greek school was established at the end of the 18th century whose headmaster at 1802 was Daniel Moscopolites. This school functioned the following decades, thanks to donations and bequests mainly by baron Simon Sinas
, a member of the Moscopole diaspora. The school functioned until the 1916 wave of destruction, and his last director was Theophrastos Georgiadis
.
Moscopole
Moscopole was a cultural and commercial center of the Aromanians, and now a small municipality in Korçë District, modern southeastern Albania. At its peak, in the mid 18th century, it hosted the first printing press in the Balkans outside Istanbul, educational institutions and numerous churches...
, an 18th century cultural and commercial metropolis of the Aromanians
Aromanians
Aromanians are a Latin people native throughout the southern Balkans, especially in northern Greece, Albania, the Republic of Macedonia, Bulgaria, and as an emigrant community in Serbia and Romania . An older term is Macedo-Romanians...
and leading center of Greek
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....
culture in what is now southeastern Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
. It was nicknamed the 'worthiest jewel of the city' and played a very active role in the inception of the modern Greek Enlightenment movement.
Background
Moscopole, now Voskopojë, a small village in south Albania, was an 18th century city inhabited predominantly by AromaniansAromanians
Aromanians are a Latin people native throughout the southern Balkans, especially in northern Greece, Albania, the Republic of Macedonia, Bulgaria, and as an emigrant community in Serbia and Romania . An older term is Macedo-Romanians...
. It became a center of Greek culture
Culture of Greece
The culture of Greece has evolved over thousands of years, beginning in Mycenaean Greece, continuing most notably into Classical Greece, through the influence of the Roman Empire and its Greek Eastern successor the Byzantine Empire...
, with Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
being the language of education in the local schools, as well as the language of the books published by the local printing house, founded either in 1720 or in 1731. Seemingly it was the second printing press founded 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...
, after the also Greek printing press in Istambul. Education was so actively promoted, that the city emerged as a leading center of Greek intellectual activity.
An educational institution, called The Greek College, was active in the city as early as 1710. Its first director, Chrysanthos, was a monk from Zitsa
Zitsa
Zitsa is a village and a municipality in the Ioannina regional unit, Epirus, Greece. The seat of the municipality is the village Eleousa.-Municipality:...
, while, in 1724, 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...
born scholar, Nicolaos Stigmis, became schoolmaster. After 1730 and for a short period, Ioannis Chalkeus
Ioannis Chalkeus
Ioannis Chalkeus or Chalkias, was an Aromanian scholar, philosopher and figure of the modern Greek Enlightenment....
an Aristotelian philosopher also taught in the school. During that time the teaching staff included scholars from various ethnic backgrounds: Aromanian, Greek and Albanian.
History
In 1738, Sevastos LeontiadisSevastos Leontiadis
Sevastos Leontiadis was most known as the director of the Kastoria school between 1726 and 1728.He was born in Kastoria on 1690. He was student of Methodios Anthrakites in Siatista, Kastoria and Ioannina. He spent some time in Italy for studies. He was the director of the Kastoria school and...
, a scholar and priest 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...
(now Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
), was put in charge. It was during his directorate that the school was upgraded and endowed with additional classes. In 1744 the school was named New Academy and in 1750 it was re-housed in a new, imposing building. In accordance to 18th-century Greek educational mores, a school could only acquire the title 'Academy
Academy
An academy is an institution of higher learning, research, or honorary membership.The name traces back to Plato's school of philosophy, founded approximately 385 BC at Akademia, a sanctuary of Athena, the goddess of wisdom and skill, north of Athens, Greece. In the western world academia is the...
' if it achieved a higher standard of educational quality and prestige. Similar educational insistutions this period were operating in a number of urban center in the Ottoman Empire: Bucharest, Iaşi, Ioannina
Maroutsaia School
The Maroutsaia School or Maroutsios was a Greek educational institution that operated in Ioannina from 1742 to 1797. The school reached its peak under Eugenios Voulgaris, one of the main representative of the modern Greek Enlightenment...
, Istanbul
Phanar Greek Orthodox College
-See also:*Fener*Greeks in Turkey*Zografeion Lyceum*List of schools in Istanbul*Ottoman Greeks...
(Constantinople).
It was also alternatively called Ellinikon Frontistirion ( Greek College). In 1750 Theodore Kavalliotis
Theodore Kavalliotis
Theodore Kavalliotis was a Greek Orthodox priest, teacher and a figure of the Greek Enlightenment. He is also known for having drafted an Aromanian-Greek-Albanian dictionary.-Early life:...
, already a member of the teaching staff since 1743, became the headmaster of the New Academy. Kavalliotis was instrumental in establishing the reputation of the Academy, which, under his direction, reached its floruit. Becoming the virtual soul of the Academy, Kavalliotis taught grammar, poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
, philosophical disciplines, and theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
. Moreover, with the purpose of meeting class needs, he wrote a number of introductory manuals in Greek, as well as treatises and other material, necessary for teaching, many of which are still preserved in unpublished manuscripts.
Apart from Kavalliotis, another teacher of the New Academy was the owner of the Academy’s printing press, Gregory Konstantinidis (not to be confused with Gregory of Durrës), who was also responsible for the printing of the books that were taught. He taught from 1745 to 1748. The printing house had notably close ties to the Monastery of Saint Naum, near Ohrid
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...
. Notably 19 publications from Moscopole's printing press, mainly religious ones, appeared after 1760. The last known publication of the press was the Introduction to Grammar by Kavalliotis.
Aftermath
The New Academy, was destroyed during the first wave of destruction of Moscopole, by Muslim AlbanianAlbanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
bands in 1769. Although the city never rose to its former glory, a new Greek school was established at the end of the 18th century whose headmaster at 1802 was Daniel Moscopolites. This school functioned the following decades, thanks to donations and bequests mainly by baron Simon Sinas
Simon Sinas
- Biography :Simon Sinas was born in 1810 in Vienna. He was of Greek origin, while his family originated from Moscopole. He served as Greek Consul in Vienna, and later as Minister to Austria, the Kingdom of Bavaria, and Germany. The son of Georgios Sinas, also a benefactor and diplomat, Sinas...
, a member of the Moscopole diaspora. The school functioned until the 1916 wave of destruction, and his last director was Theophrastos Georgiadis
Theophrastos Georgiadis
Theophrastos Georgiadis was a Greek author and teacher. His work about the once prosperous urban center of Moscopole, today a small mountain village in southern Albania, is considered of great value since it concerns the period before the town's destruction in 1916.-Life:Georgiadis was born in...
.