Euthymius the Athonite
Euthymius the Athonite | |
|---|---|
.JPG) A 13th-century fresco of Euthymius from the Akhtala monastery | |
| Born | c. 955 |
| Died | c. 1024 |
| Era | Middle Ages |
| Region | Byzantine Empire, Georgia |
| School | Byzantine philosophy |
Main interests | Theology, Art, Literature, Canon Law |
Notable ideas | sibrdzne balavarisa |
Euthymius the Athonite (Georgian: ექვთიმე ათონელი Ekvtime Atoneli; c. 955–1024) was a renowned Georgian philosopher and scholar. His feast day in the Orthodox Church is May 13.[1]
Euthymius was a Georgian, the ethnonym used by the Byzantines being Abasgians.[2] The son of Ioane Varaz-vache Chordvaneli and nephew of the great Tornike Eristavi, Euthymius was taken as a political hostage to Constantinople but was later released and became a monk joining the Great Lavra of Athanasios on Mount Athos. He subsequently became the leader of the Georgian Iviron monastery, which had been founded by his father,[3] and emerged as one of the finest Eastern Christian theologians and scholars of his age. Euthymius labored as abbot of the Iveron Monastery on Mt. Athos for fourteen years before stepping aside to concentrate on his translations.[4]
Fluent in Georgian, Greek and other languages, he translated many religious treatises and philosophical works. Among his major works was the translation of sibrdzne balavarisa (Wisdom of Balahvari), a Christianized version of episodes from the life of Gautama Buddha that became very popular in Medieval Europe as the story of Barlaam and Josaphat. Of equal importance was Euthymius’ work to prepare Georgian translations of various Greek philosophical, ecclesiastical and legal discourses.
He died near Byzantium, when a mule on which he was riding, startled by the approach of a beggar made to bolt and Euthymius fell. His relics are buried in the Church of Saint John the Baptist at the Iveron Monastery on Mt. Athos.[4]
References
- ^ Template:Gr icon Ὁ Ὅσιος Εὐθύμιος ὁ Ἀθωνίτης κτήτορας τῆς Ι.Μ. Ἰβήρων. 13 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
- ^ Elguja Xintʻibiże (1998). Designations of the Georgians and their etymology. Tʻbilisis Universitetis Gamomcʻemloba. p. 73. ISBN 978-5-511-00775-5.
- ^ Kalistrat Salia (1983). History of the Georgian nation. N. Salia. p. 82.
- ^ a b "St. Euthymius of Athos the translator", Orthodox Church in America
Sources
- Theodor Dowling, Sketches of Georgian Church History, Adamant Media Corporation (October 9, 2003), ISBN 1-4212-2891-2
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
- 11th-century people from Georgia (country)
- 10th-century people from Georgia (country)
- 11th-century Byzantine monks
- 11th-century Christian saints
- 10th-century Byzantine monks
- Calligraphers from Georgia (country)
- Athonite Fathers
- Nobility of Georgia (country)
- Saints of Georgia (country)
- Philosophers from Georgia (country)
- Eastern Orthodox theologians
- Translators from Greek
- Translators to Georgian
- Byzantine people of Georgian descent
- 950s births
- 1020s deaths
- 11th-century philosophers