Steven Avery
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Benedict pdf from Nikolos - made into .rtf .docx
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Steven Avery
Administrator
ΒΕΝΕΔΙΚΤΟΣ ΡΩΣΟΣ
Ο «ΣΙΠΑΧΗΣ» ΤΗΣ ΣΥΜΗΣ (1764-1840)
ΤΟΥ ΝΙΚΟΛΟΥ ΦΑΡΜΑΚΙΔΗ
ΠΟΛΙΤΙΚΟΥ ΜΗΧΑΝΙΚΟΥ
ΕΙΣΑΓΩΓΗ
Στις ιστορικές έρευνες μου για την Σύμη, συνάντησα το όνομα του Βενέδικτου
Ρώσου1, Συμαίου δασκάλου της Σχολής της Αγίας Μαρίνας, στις αρχές του 19ου αιώνα.
Οι περισσότεροι δάσκαλοι της Σύμης, του 18ου και του 19ου αιώνα, ήταν μεγάλες
προσωπικότητες της διανόησης, παρόλο που αυτό δεν είναι και τόσο γνωστό. Είναι
όμως κάτι που διαπιστώνεται εύκολα, από τις αναφορές σε αυτό το πεδίο.
Όταν διάβασα το βιβλίο του Ρίντιγκερ Σάπερ, αρχισυντάκτη πολιτιστικού
τμήματος του Tagcspicgcl: «Η Οδύσσεια του πλαστογράφου Κωνσταντίνου
Σιμωνίδη2», όπου περιγράφει τον Βενέδικτο ως σκοτεινό άτομο, δημιούργησε μέσα
μου μια αντίφαση. Τον περιγράφει ως «...ένα «αχρείο με σταυρό», το θείο Βενέδικτο.
Τα βράδια συνήθιζε να επισκέπτεται το επτάχρονο αγόρι στο δωμάτιό του προκαλώντας
του αποστροφή. Δέκα ετών ο Σιμωνίδης θα βρεθεί στην Αίγινα, σ' ένα πρότυπο σχολείο
που ίδρυσε ο Καποδίστριας, καταφέρνοντας να απαλλαγεί από τον διεστραμμένο θείο.
Οταν όμως επιστρέφει στο νησί, εκείνος είναι εκεί και συνεχίζει. Η προοπτική του να
πάει να σπουδάσει στην Αθήνα τον ενθουσιάζει. Απελπίζεται όμως όταν μαθαίνει ότι
πρώτα θα πρέπει να ακολουθήσει τον θείο Βενέδικτο σε κάποιες μονές του Βορρά».
BENEDIKTOS ROSOS
THE “SWORDSMAN” OF SYMI (1764-1840)
BY NIKOLOS FARMAKIDIS
CIVIL ENGINEER
INTRODUCTION
In my historical research on Symi, I came across the name of Benedict
Rosos1, a Symian teacher at the School of Agia Marina, at the beginning of the 19th century.
Most of the teachers of Symi, in the 18th and 19th centuries, were great personalities of the intellectual world, although this is not so well known. However, it is something that is easily ascertained from the references in this field.
When I read the book by Ridiger Sapper, chief editor of the cultural section of Tagcspicgcl: "The Odyssey of the Forger Konstantinos Simonides2", where he describes Benedict as a dark person, it created a contradiction in me. He describes him as "...a "scoundrel with a cross", the uncle Benedict.
In the evenings he used to visit the seven-year-old boy in his room, causing him disgust. At the age of ten, Simonides will find himself in Aegina, in a model school founded by Kapodistrias, managing to get rid of his perverted uncle.
However, when he returns to the island, he is there and continues. The prospect of him going to study in Athens excites him. But he despairs when he learns that "first he will have to follow Uncle Benedict to some monasteries in the North."
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Ο «ΣΙΠΑΧΗΣ» ΤΗΣ ΣΥΜΗΣ (1764-1840)
ΤΟΥ ΝΙΚΟΛΟΥ ΦΑΡΜΑΚΙΔΗ
ΠΟΛΙΤΙΚΟΥ ΜΗΧΑΝΙΚΟΥ
ΕΙΣΑΓΩΓΗ
Στις ιστορικές έρευνες μου για την Σύμη, συνάντησα το όνομα του Βενέδικτου
Ρώσου1, Συμαίου δασκάλου της Σχολής της Αγίας Μαρίνας, στις αρχές του 19ου αιώνα.
Οι περισσότεροι δάσκαλοι της Σύμης, του 18ου και του 19ου αιώνα, ήταν μεγάλες
προσωπικότητες της διανόησης, παρόλο που αυτό δεν είναι και τόσο γνωστό. Είναι
όμως κάτι που διαπιστώνεται εύκολα, από τις αναφορές σε αυτό το πεδίο.
Όταν διάβασα το βιβλίο του Ρίντιγκερ Σάπερ, αρχισυντάκτη πολιτιστικού
τμήματος του Tagcspicgcl: «Η Οδύσσεια του πλαστογράφου Κωνσταντίνου
Σιμωνίδη2», όπου περιγράφει τον Βενέδικτο ως σκοτεινό άτομο, δημιούργησε μέσα
μου μια αντίφαση. Τον περιγράφει ως «...ένα «αχρείο με σταυρό», το θείο Βενέδικτο.
Τα βράδια συνήθιζε να επισκέπτεται το επτάχρονο αγόρι στο δωμάτιό του προκαλώντας
του αποστροφή. Δέκα ετών ο Σιμωνίδης θα βρεθεί στην Αίγινα, σ' ένα πρότυπο σχολείο
που ίδρυσε ο Καποδίστριας, καταφέρνοντας να απαλλαγεί από τον διεστραμμένο θείο.
Οταν όμως επιστρέφει στο νησί, εκείνος είναι εκεί και συνεχίζει. Η προοπτική του να
πάει να σπουδάσει στην Αθήνα τον ενθουσιάζει. Απελπίζεται όμως όταν μαθαίνει ότι
πρώτα θα πρέπει να ακολουθήσει τον θείο Βενέδικτο σε κάποιες μονές του Βορρά».
BENEDIKTOS ROSOS
THE “SWORDSMAN” OF SYMI (1764-1840)
BY NIKOLOS FARMAKIDIS
CIVIL ENGINEER
INTRODUCTION
In my historical research on Symi, I came across the name of Benedict
Rosos1, a Symian teacher at the School of Agia Marina, at the beginning of the 19th century.
Most of the teachers of Symi, in the 18th and 19th centuries, were great personalities of the intellectual world, although this is not so well known. However, it is something that is easily ascertained from the references in this field.
When I read the book by Ridiger Sapper, chief editor of the cultural section of Tagcspicgcl: "The Odyssey of the Forger Konstantinos Simonides2", where he describes Benedict as a dark person, it created a contradiction in me. He describes him as "...a "scoundrel with a cross", the uncle Benedict.
In the evenings he used to visit the seven-year-old boy in his room, causing him disgust. At the age of ten, Simonides will find himself in Aegina, in a model school founded by Kapodistrias, managing to get rid of his perverted uncle.
However, when he returns to the island, he is there and continues. The prospect of him going to study in Athens excites him. But he despairs when he learns that "first he will have to follow Uncle Benedict to some monasteries in the North."
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Steven Avery
Administrator
BENEDICT RUSSIAN
THE "SIPAHIS" OF SYMI (1764-1840)
BY NIKOLOS FARMAKIDIS
CIVIL ENGINEERING
INTRODUCTION
In my historical research on Symi, I came across the name of Benedict the Russian1, a Symian teacher of the School of Agia Marina, at the beginning of the 19th century. Most of the teachers of Symi, of the 18th and 19th centuries, were great personalities of the intelligentsia, although this is not so well known, but it is something that is easily ascertained from the references in this field.
When I read the book by Rüdiger Schaper, editor-in-chief of the cultural department of Tagespiegel: "The Odyssey of the forger Constantine Simonides2", where he describes Benedict as a dark person, it created a contradiction in me. He describes him as "...At the age of ten, Simonides will find himself in Aegina, in a model school founded by Kapodistrias, managing to get rid of his perverted uncle. But when he returns to the island, he is there and continues. The prospect of going to study in Athens excites him, but he despairs when he learns that he will have to follow first the divine Benedict in some monasteries of the North".
Despite his investigations, Schaper does not know who Benedict was and what he did. Sapper's description aims to degrade Simonides' environment, so that the theory of maladaptability stands. The real events are completely different and I describe them in my book on Simonides.
What Schaper writes are inventions. He mocks Simonides who says that Benedict was Abbot. A little research, however, leaves us surprised by the indisputable personality and the greatness of his character, as evidenced by dozens of public documents, accessible to everyone.
Reading Benedict's correspondence with the Symians, the then Government, as well as with Kapodistrias himself, but also ascertaining the trust he showed him, we see the appreciation of everyone, especially the Governor who considered him one of the great teachers of the Nation.
The first years of his life.
The hierodeacon Benedict the Russian, nicknamed Spiachios or Sypachios, was called Michael Papaioannou. Simonides also calls him Vissarion (obviously a temporary nickname that we find when he was in Kydonies). He was born in Symi in 1760 and died on Mount Athos on 28.5.1840. He was a relative of Simonides' mother, Maria Kalafata. Simonides' father was Simon Hadjikostas. The name Simonides was taken by Simon's children, when they were registered in the municipal registers of liberated Greece. At this time, everyone took surnames and those who had a high education, took the father's name with the ending in -idis or -adis.
Benedict spent his first school years in Symi and was tonsured as a monk, in the Monastery of St. Panteleimon of the Russians on Mount Athos. Hence the name Russian. The archives of the Athonite School show that she studied there until the end of 1770, together with Prokopios Dendrinos from Ithaca, with whom she was connected by a deep friendship and stayed together all the years of their lives.
In Kydonies, the first settler, Ioannis Oikonomou, established a School in the Church of Kato Panagia, to which Eugenios from Vryoulon and then Vissarion from Symaeus3, Theodosios (Romakas) from Mountania, Georgios of Crete and last Grigorios Sarafis were invited as teachers. This School was maintained until 1799, then it was converted into an Academy (1800).4
Benedict as a teacher at the School of Agia Marina in Symi.
So Benedict from Kydonies was invited along with Prokopios to teach at the School of Agia Marina in Symi. It was one of the prominent Academies of the wider Greek area, as noted by Konstantinos Vardalachos in his book "Rhetorical Art Composed for the Benefit of the Greek Youth". He mentions its schools: Chios, Smyrna, Kydonia, Patmos, Athens, Symi, Milia, Messovo, two Ioannina, Odessa, Iași, Bucharest.
The School of Agia Marina was founded in the middle of the 18th century. At first as a simple school and then, from 1765, as a higher School according to the standards of the "Academy". Agia Marina was founded with money from the Symbian Chancellor5 Kallistratos Georgaris, who was the locum tenens of the stavropegic I.M. of Michael Roukouniotis and with contributions from the inhabitants of Symi.
Several students were also sent abroad at the expense of the Panormitis Monastery, the Community or individuals, to study. Among them, Kon. Vardalachos, N. Vamvas, Benedict (Vas. Vissarion), P. Rodios etc.
From the beginning of the 19th century, the School was in great prosperity, and was also an economic factor of the island. In all the churches of the island, there was a box for collecting money. The "Common" borrowed large sums from it, as did the merchants. It was directed by the Ephors (commissioners), two of whom were elected by the people for a three-year term and presided over by the respective Protogeros. The most literate was a grammarian and treasurer. From time to time, Chatzinikitas Kladakiou, Chatzivasilis Bernas, Kyrnikolas Fotaklas and others served as commissioners of the School.
On the eve of the Revolution, its teachers were initiated into the Friendly Society. So they made the School a basic initiation center for all the inhabitants of the Southern Sporades. A three-member committee of teachers, Nikandros Philadelphus Georgiadis as president, and Benedict and Procopius as members, was tasked with catechizing the members of the Friendly Society. Obviously, the work was assigned to them by the Patriarch of Patmos of Alexandria, Theophilos. Theophilos had left his headquarters and lived in Patmos to support the Greek Revolution.
From 1799 to 1820, the commissioners of the School of Agia Marina were Agapitos Hatziagapitos Hatziioannou and Nikolas Papa-Nikitas Hallaris. Hatziagapitos studied at the School during the first years of its establishment. He wrote very clearly and was very formal and meticulous. For this reason, the "Deuterion6" (book of the School's treasury), which has survived, has plenty of information about the School.
The financial power of the School was channeled into the revolutionary mechanism by the Friends. So friction was created on the island with the Notables who did not want to participate in the Greek Revolution. They finally managed to close the school in 1820, supported by Shukur Bey of Rhodes. The Ottomans did not have administrative jurisdiction over Symi, but it did not cease to be subordinate to the Sultan and the Ottomans influenced what was happening with the help of their own people.
Some of the Notables considered that the economic and administrative regime that existed due to the Ottoman Empire was the most ideal for the island, while the rest put patriotism above economic and social interests, wanting to participate in the Greek Revolution. The main core of the second group were the teachers and students of the School. For this reason, the opposing group said that the School became a nursery for educated weeds, i.e. young people who faced the common things of the island with innovative perceptions, which was the creation of free Nation States, outside empires.
Thus, the School of Agia Marina in 1820 will disappear from the face of the earth. In fact, such was the fury that no stone was left unturned, as the Symians would later recount. Its teachers will be expelled from the island.
Benedict took the nickname Sypachio or Spiachos because he was the most ardent supporter of the liberation from the Turkish yoke. Because of his fanaticism, the Symians saw him as a fighter of Religion, a "spahi". He maintained this fighting spirit throughout his life.
Return to the Monastery of St. Panteleimon on Mount Athos and the revolution of Mount Athos.
Benedict and Prokopios left Symi, as did the other teachers. The two took refuge in their monastery, Saint Panteleimon of the Russians. However, after the revolution of the Monks of Mount Athos in March 1821 and its suppression in December, the conditions imposed by the Turks on the monasteries were very onerous: 3,000 pouches7 , i.e. 1,500,000 piastres in war compensation. Survival on Mount Athos was impossible. with the intervention of Patriarch Theophilos, they migrated with the belongings of the monasteries to Nafplio and Poros.
On November 6, 1822, the Minister of Religion of Androusa, Joseph (later Metropolitan of Messene), reports that, from the Commune of the Holy Monastery of the Russians, where it is located on Mount Athos, their Coenobiarch Mr. Benedict and the rest of the most venerable fathers, after the destruction of Mount Athos, fled here to the Peloponnese8.
The same minister: "sent a faithful and worthy man to the island of Poros with the Athonite people, who recorded all the sacred relics and utensils". He also timidly throws down the opinion: "because the nation now more than ever has the greatest need and is given money ... And there are no lenders from elsewhere, I consider it advantageous and necessary and holy to redeem from the sacred vessels some" "superfluous sanctuaries", "useless vessels", in exchange for "national confessions" that will be issued by the Parliament. It is hereby decided,
"the Administration should send well-known people, who with an exact list will receive them and bring them here (Corinth) and then the Administration will take care of their safety and what is proper".8 In the end, it was decided to send the utensils to Hydra. Benedict from 6.1822 to 11.1825 was in the Monastery of Zoodochos Spring of Poros and co-signed documents for the sale of utensils9.
The appointment of Kapodistrias as Governor on 18.1.1828 gives hope of support to the people of Mount Athos. In 1829, they wanted to return to Mount Athos with their sacred utensils and other belongings, which had been handed over to the notables of Hydra and Spetses. In the G.S.A. we find a series of letters, signed by Benedict as abbot of the Monastery of the Russians. In a letter, Kyrillos Iviritis and Gabriel Xiropotamitis sign with him:
”Your Excellency the Governor, Because, as it is known and well-known, not only did the Koinon of Hydra receive from the dynastic things of Mount Athos brought to Hydra, sufficient silver in blades, and sacred silver vessels, they unjustly valued them at 25 parades per dram, and at 5 thousand piastres of the late Damaskinos before Iberia, but also some Captains and pirates robberly and tyrannically received from the Iberians tal. 525: And from the Russians capable silverware, and other miscellaneous kinds, as it is mentioned in the On Their Registers. For these reasons, the same pirate received their ship unjustly, similarly the then abbot of their monastery received their cloak for 600 piastres. For these things, therefore, which were unjustly taken from the public, and those seized from the Hydraians in part, we beg the Ven. Cub. To order that the compensation of these be made to us, as dictated by her godliness, and by her incomparable zeal for the sacred Katagogia, so that we may answer our enormous debts, and especially those to the other races,10 and we will be for life. Aol August 16th" (16.8.1830).
Benedict on 17.8.1830 writes: "Your Excellency the Governor, And all the Saints are indebted to the H.A.E. for the special reverence, defense and care towards the sanctuaries of Mount Athos, which he has shown since the hour he sailed in Greece, and shows to this day, both by word and deed and by all the powers protecting, helping and from his relatives. And we Russians know the graces to be infinite, and the Coenobium as long as it resides, is indebted to H.E. because of its unparalleled zeal, which it has about the divine, it has not suffered at all to have its sacred vessels handed over, and to be condemned by the debtors, but to the general other things of philobition it was also honored for this poor Coenobium, not only to send unharmed what was left of the abduction of the Hydra people before its God-sent coming, and of the abducted and robbed the appreciation to be given to those wronged, but also the obvious debt of K:K: she was present with such a representation to take off, that not only did she lower the required quantity to less than 1/3, but she also paid 5600 piastres of them from herself, For this reason alone, so that these sacred vessels would not be hindered, but would be contracted with the other things of the Holy Mountain, and so he relieved us of this burden, and the Commune and the sacred vessels should be included without restraint. For which we are most certainly for life, and what a Coenobium as long as it is preserved, we are obliged to pray for H.E., ranking it with the late founders of the monastery. This is what we remain: Your Excellency."
The correspondence between the Government and the Monasteries, where Benedict always signs as Abbot of the Russians, is long. Kapodistrias appreciated the personality and knowledge of Benedict. So he did not let him return to Mount Athos and placed him in 1829 as a teacher at the School of Spetses.
One of the great visions of Kapodistrias was the education of the clergy. For this reason, at the suggestion of Alex. Strutzas and Oikonomou from Oikonomou created the Ecclesiastical School of Poros, which was founded in February 1830 and began its work in November 1830.
? considered Benedict more suitable to administer and teach at the School, but he humbly considered himself incapable of managing a School and asked to be assisted by Dendrinos. The humility of the man and the greatness of his soul are shown by the following letter he sent to Kapodistrias: "Your Excellency: Knowing my illnesses and natural shortcomings, I wrote it earlier in August about my incompetence in public affairs, and not to give a hearing to the deceitful people. They have a god about me who is unworthy, but because I was not heard, and I was burdened with the one who set out a school for me, but I gave my word for my infinite respect for her, not taking time for the rape, and for the immediate entry of the brethren to explain to her the things about myself, for this reason I am already bold, and I ask forgiveness for this boldness, Your Excellency, because of my natural deficiencies, I find it difficult to bear this burden, because such commonalities will make them bold, outspoken, sloppy in speech, as Mr. Prokopios, and I am unfortunate of these. To this I ask you to entrust the authority and supervision of the school, the organization and the duty of examining the students, so that progress can be made and ... and guide in everything, because he is very sloppy in his speech, most memorable, extreme in the zeal of faith, most capable of living. He abandons the cacodox and atheists, most picturesque, said another. Therefore, for these and other merits and according to the profession, as an archimandrite and the one who possesses the word, he must receive the protection of the
1 BENEDICTUS (teacher Mr. Benedict, Russian deacon of Simiakos, sic a Lampros vocatus. C.A.. II. 452). Compossuitifficium sanctorum Anargyrorum, Lampros. Ibid., 445 etacoluthiam festi ab Axion estin dicti. Ibid., 452; acoluthiam verotis Zoodochos Pigis retractavit, I 381. HYMNOGRAPHI BYZANTINI, QUORUM NOMINA IN LITTERA DIGESSIT NOTULISQUE ADORNAVIT. C. ÈMEREAU.
2 Konstantinos Simonides is considered a great forger. He was born in Symi in 1820 and died in Alexandria in 1867. In fact, he was a very good connoisseur of palaeography, old manuscripts and Greek literature.
3 Konstantinos Simonides, in his book, refers to him as Benedict and Vissarion.
4 Tryfonos Evangelidou "Education during the Turkish occupation". Volume B. page 256
5 The word is etymologized from the words plus + cell, by extension it means monk in a commune (hence Chancellor).
6 See Museum of the Holy Metropolis of Panormitis. I was kindly given a copy for study by the Holy Metropolis of Symi, which I thank.
7 From the Latin pugio, 1 pouch = 500 piastres. 8 G.A.K.
8 G.A.K Archives
9 General State Archives
10 Taxes and compensations that the monasteries of St. conditions they had to give to the Ottoman Government.
=============================
Saints are indebted to the H.A.E. for the special reverence, defense and care towards the sanctuaries of Mount Athos, which he has shown since the hour he sailed in Greece, and shows to this day, both by word and deed and by all the powers protecting, helping and from his relatives. And we Russians know the graces to be infinite, and the Coenobium as long as it resides, is indebted to H.E. because of its unparalleled zeal, which it has about the divine, it has not suffered at all to have its sacred vessels handed over, and to be condemned by the debtors, but to the general other things of philobition it was also honored for this poor Coenobium, not only to send unharmed what was left of the abduction of the Hydra people before its God-sent coming, and of the abducted and robbed the appreciation to be given to those wronged, but also the obvious debt of K:K: she was present with such a representation to take off, that not only did she lower the required quantity to less than 1/3, but she also paid 5600 piastres of them from herself, For this reason alone, so that these sacred vessels would not be hindered, but would be contracted with the other things of the Holy Mountain, and so he relieved us of this burden, and the Commune and the sacred vessels should be included without restraint. For which we are most certainly for life, and what a Coenobium as long as it is preserved, we are obliged to pray for H.E., ranking it with the late founders of the monastery. This is what we remain: Your Excellency."
The correspondence between the Government and the Monasteries, where Benedict always signs as Abbot of the Russians, is long. Kapodistrias appreciated the personality and knowledge of Benedict. So he did not let him return to Mount Athos and placed him in 1829 as a teacher at the School of Spetses.
One of the great visions of Kapodistrias was the education of the clergy. For this reason, at the suggestion of Alex. Strutzas and Oikonomou from Oikonomou created the Ecclesiastical School of Poros, which was founded in February 1830 and began its work in November 1830.
Kapodistrias considered Benedict more suitable to administer and teach at the School, but he humbly considered himself incapable of managing a School and asked to be assisted by Dendrinos. The humility of the man and the greatness of his soul are shown by the following letter he sent to Kapodistrias: "Your Excellency: Knowing my illnesses and natural shortcomings, I wrote it earlier in August about my incompetence in public affairs, and not to give a hearing to the deceitful people. They have a god about me who is unworthy, but because I was not heard, and I was burdened with the one who set out a school for me, but I gave my word for my infinite respect for her, not taking time for the rape, and for the immediate entry of the brethren to explain to her the things about myself, for this reason I am already bold, and I ask forgiveness for this boldness, Your Excellency, because of my natural deficiencies, I find it difficult to bear this burden, because such commonalities will make them bold, outspoken, sloppy in speech, as Mr. Prokopios, and I am unfortunate of these. To this I ask you to entrust the authority and supervision of the school, the organization and the duty of examining the students, so that progress can be made and ... and guide in everything, because he is very sloppy in his speech, most memorable, extreme in the zeal of faith, most capable of living. He abandons the cacodox and atheists, most picturesque, said another. Therefore, for these and other merits and according to the profession, as an archimandrite and the one who possesses the word, he must receive the protection of the school, and I must be an assistant. So I believe that her deepest wisdom has planned them, but for the peace of my thoughts, I mention them, and I ask her to rest me with respect for the notice, because otherwise I find it difficult, forgive me, that I am forced to disobey for my shortcomings, I leave the peaceful, which was the most important thing to me, and so that I do not seem so disobedient and unyielding...., pertaining to her most pious and most charitable purpose, which may be successful in her appeal. 1830 Jan 21. The humblest servant of Benedict.
P.S. I beg you not to deceive me in this, because my desire for happiness and my natural inclination for it compel me to behave and write in this way. And now, if he wanted to do the omission of a monk incapable of resting, he would know grace to the greatest extent."1
Benedict, in order to convince Kapodistrias that Prokopios had identical views with his Governor, writes on 18.9.1830 (GAK 059) "Your Excellency the Governor: When Mr. Prokopios came here, I showed him the messages sent by Your Excellency about the Ecclesiastical School, and all the regulations and restrictions, and he accepted all of them with great pleasure, saying "and in fact I want them too, God gave in to the heart of our revered Governor to order so." Therefore, because the brother has become pregnant, no proposal is lacking. Therefore, I undertake with my brother Mr. Prokopios this burden that is entrusted to us, which is great for me as well, devoting ourselves to the above all-powerful help, and to her paternal defense and relief from all the difficulties and against my natural qualities and shortcomings, both from outside, and may we appear worthy of your prayers, and novices."2
Kapodistrias therefore accepts the position of both. Benedict as Curator of the School, Prokopios as Director of Courses and Abbot of Zoodochos Pigi as administrator. Later, Benedict also took over the management.
Benedict next to the rebellious Symi.
Symi participates in the Revolution, by decision of the general assembly of its inhabitants on 16.8.1821. The flag of the revolution, which was raised in the Castle by the brother of Nikandros Georgiadis, Themistocles, had: "the whole plain is purple, in the middle a white holy Cross, on the footstool of the crescent red downhill, on the right antenna of the cross an anchor from top to bottom along the length of the cross, The trunk of the anchor should be joined to the end of the horn of the cross and it is white, on it in a serpent a green cross-turned, whose head is sloping, on the other side a white spear, in the middle of it a small red flag, having two white eyes".3 They raise the same flag on their ships.
At the first national assembly on 20.12.1821, Benedict was officially elected to represent Symi. However, he asked for his replacement, because the representatives should not be clergy. The Symians did not have time to send a replacement.
In 1922 Symi was incorporated into the new Greek State and Mr. Ioannis Psarakis was appointed Deputy Regent of Symi, Episcopate (Tilos) and Nisyros, on May 4, 1822.
The assembly of the Egyptian fleet in Rhodes in 1823 cut off the Symaeans from the rebellious Greeks and forced them to take down the flag from the island and from their ships. Then, Benedict advised them to raise the flag of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem as revolutionary4. We saw this flag in the churches of Symi until the 1950s, since the Symians considered their island unredeemed. Of course, the last generations did not know why they were raising it, so it was forgotten and now it does not exist.
In the meantime, the Turks declare a holy war against the "infidels" and Russia declares war against Turkey (14.4.1828). The London Protocol (February 3, 1830) initially defined the boundaries of Greece, but Symi and the other islands of the Sporades were left out.
The Symians, monitoring the situation, reacted immediately by sending representatives to pressure the government. Everything was fluid and could overturn decisions. They addressed the Governor (26.9.28), and he replied in October 1828 that the Government could not do anything for Symi and that they should not fight with each other.
So Kapodistrias did not pay due attention, since all Greeks asked for the same. Thus, they resorted to their compatriot Benedict, knowing his relations with the Governor (11.8.29). "Your Venerable Philosopher, And our dear patriot Mr. Benedict... We ask that the salvation sought and the freedom from the tyrants be made as soon as possible, eternal and not temporary. The benefits of our country are made known by the bearer Mr. Simon Hatzikostas. We remain in response and good execution. Those who live on the island of Symi all together with women and children, dear patriots Hatzigapitos Hatziioannou, Simon Hatzikonstas, Diakos Hatzidiakou. The Secretary M. Manuel".
Benedict recounts the situation to Kapodistrias (Sept. 1829) and begs him: "..about which I beg you to listen to her usual long-suffering to the deliberately sent envoy, Mr. Simon, and you will know everything very precisely." 5In the same letter, he begs Kapodistrias to accept that Simon's children, Konstantinos and Photios, will be apprentices at the new School founded by the Governor in the Orphanage of Aegina.
The efforts are intensified with the help of Benedict. We read his letters as they were preserved in the archives of Panagiotis Skiathitis, physician and elder of Symi. These letters are recorded in his unpublished book. Benedict writes in the Elders of Symi: I overjoy the nobility we coveted6.
I also received the letter of October, written by the dear of the same case, about which I also reported with Mr. Michalakis Bogiatzis, and noted that even before with Mr. Simonos, to whom I replied at the time. And since you write to me again about the same things, I do not fail to note that I try as much as I can on matters, and may the divine finish it and our desire, if it is his will. And His Excellency strives more than we do, except neither the one who wills nor runs, but the god who pleases. According to them, as he passed through Petzes in a side of the country, he immediately came forward about his homeland, and said to me: Pray I want and I am trying and God will end it. But he ordered the captain of the naval squadron to defend the island that now has your island and to answer the disturbances of the neighbors. So he showed the help? I hope because what His Excellency says everything must be true and acted upon. These things are short, and I will stay.
On December VII (7.12.1829) the fellow elders of the Archbishop of Canterbury and all the patriots alike.
Your Nobility is completely suspended
Benedict patriot
Benedict is in Spetses, the Ecclesiastical School of Poros has not yet operated. The Symiacs, with Benedict and Procopius as advisors, knowing from within what should happen, pressed more and more. Benedict advises them on how to act and what to write in their report:
Your longed-for nobility I tear myself apart from the nobility of my soul.
Her various letters were received concerning her health and the country, before which I replied once and twice, but I do not know whether you received them. For your health I rejoice and I pray that the Lord will grant you a dwelling for life.
For the state of the country I am extremely sorry if it has not yet undergone any change. They mentioned twice and three times his excellency, about whom the letters were projected. He replied that we are not lacking in action, but that this stands in the presence of the three Powers, and may God give in to their hearts to extend the boundaries of Greece and to include all the islands. For the time being, however, he said, I have ordered the squadron commander in those places to defense and in response to the disturbances from the neighbors. That's what he told me, what can't happen, I don't know. I have written these things to you before, both through Syros and through Simon (of whom I have no information that is found), but I have not received any reply, so I am not absent and with the present patriot to inform you about them, and write to me, if you insist on this by agreement, send a capable secular man equipped with common letters, stating that at the beginning of the revolution you raised arms, you did these and these things, you suffered these and that, and by being far away, and the help of the navy of Greece was difficult, you bowed down to it. But you are not absent at all times, by consulting with the parliament and sending ambassadors, as well as in the Municipal Assembly we appointed our patriot Benedict as plenipotentiary, but he renounced it as unfamiliar and as long as we voted for another, the time has passed. However, we sent Mr. Simon and then other letters through Mr. B. begging us not to part with the rest of the free islands but to be part of the free Greece, these and even more and most convincingly to write to the Government so that you may be introduced to the nation and to appear in the Senate if it is approved by his Excellency, which will take the place of the Municipal Assembly and in case of urgent need regarding the boundaries, a National Assembly will be established shortly and the one who has been sent by you with the power of attorney will be present. Consider, therefore, if you insist on the same opinion, and in
1 G.A.K Archives
2 G.A.K Archives
3 Archive of the Univ. Skiathitis, from his unpublished book The History of Symi.
4 The islands had to appear to have rebelled, in order to be able to join the dialogue with the Great Powers and claim their integration into the Greek State.
5 G.A.K. Archive
6 In all his letters he addresses Hatziagapitos, as the first Elder, he knows him very well from the School of Agia Marina.
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divine finish it and our desire, if it is his will. And His Excellency strives more than we do, except neither the one who wills nor runs, but the god who pleases. According to them, as he passed through Petzes in a side of the country, he immediately came forward about his homeland, and said to me: Pray I want and I am trying and God will end it. But he ordered the captain of the naval squadron to defend the island that now has your island and to answer the disturbances of the neighbors. So he showed the help? I hope because what His Excellency says everything must be true and acted upon. These things are short, and I will stay.
On December VII (7.12.1829) the fellow elders of the Archbishop of Canterbury and all the patriots alike.
Your Nobility is completely suspended
Benedict patriot
Benedict is in Spetses, the Ecclesiastical School of Poros has not yet operated. The Symiacs, with Benedict and Procopius as advisors, knowing from within what should happen, pressed more and more. Benedict advises them on how to act and what to write in their report:
Your longed-for nobility I tear myself apart from the nobility of my soul.
Her various letters were received concerning her health and the country, before which I replied once and twice, but I do not know whether you received them. For your health I rejoice and I pray that the Lord will grant you a dwelling for life.
For the state of the country I am extremely sorry if it has not yet undergone any change. They mentioned twice and three times his excellency, about whom the letters were projected. He replied that we are not lacking in action, but that this stands in the presence of the three Powers, and may God give in to their hearts to extend the boundaries of Greece and to include all the islands. For the time being, however, he said, I have ordered the squadron commander in those places to defense and in response to the disturbances from the neighbors. That's what he told me, what can't happen, I don't know. I have written these things to you before, both through Syros and through Simon (of whom I have no information that is found), but I have not received any reply, so I am not absent and with the present patriot to inform you about them, and write to me, if you insist on this by agreement, send a capable secular man equipped with common letters, stating that at the beginning of the revolution you raised arms, you did these and these things, you suffered these and that, and by being far away, and the help of the navy of Greece was difficult, you bowed down to it. But you are not absent at all times, by consulting with the parliament and sending ambassadors, as well as in the Municipal Assembly we appointed our patriot Benedict as plenipotentiary, but he renounced it as unfamiliar and as long as we voted for another, the time has passed. However, we sent Mr. Simon and then other letters through Mr. B. begging us not to part with the rest of the free islands but to be part of the free Greece, these and even more and most convincingly to write to the Government so that you may be introduced to the nation and to appear in the Senate if it is approved by his Excellency, which will take the place of the Municipal Assembly and in case of urgent need regarding the boundaries, a National Assembly will be established shortly and the one who has been sent by you with the power of attorney will be present. Consider, therefore, if you insist on the same opinion, and in agreement with you, send such a decent man, capable in words and virtuous to appear and be present. And if the disagreement is still, you calm down and take care of the thing, and beseech the holy God to provide for you according to His holy will. I am thinking about these things, I am writing under patriotism, moving and as the holy god enlightens you, you will do. I wholeheartedly divide all the notables of the homeland and its fellow elders and let them reflect on what is written and choose the interests of the homeland. And be careful not to interfere with me, because the Government does not accept monks, nor do I. Her whole family was torn apart and I remained of the nobility of the completely suspended Benedict patriot of February 28 (28.2.1830).
The representatives, Simon Hatzikostas and Hatziagapitos Hatziioannou, with a letter of recommendation from Benedict in May 1830, visit Augustinos Kapodistrias. They ask him for guidance, so that they can turn to Constantinople, since they cannot in Greece, in order to achieve the rights of their island. They want their freedom or at least to restore the previous regime.
However, the positions of the island are not understood, since on May 9, 1830, the Governor in response to their efforts writes: "To the High Priest and Notables of the island of Symi. We have received your letter of 16/28 March, and we have accepted with the utmost sympathy the wishes expressed to us on your behalf by Messrs. Hatzis, Agapitos Hatzis, Ioannis and Simon, who were sent on this purpose.... Your homeland is listed among the Islands, which are definitively returned to the Ottoman State." Obviously, he does not consider it appropriate to deal with Symi.
Benedict does not cease to encourage them and write to Kapodistrias:
Our patriots
I have received your common letter, and I have taken care of all my powers, recommending it strongly to the Venerable Governor and to his brother, who have been sent by you as before, considering it my Duty. As we received answers, your efforts and expenses were not in vain.
They give us good hope, either of perfect freedom, or of the defense of the three powers and protectors of Greece, and do not despair. Have courage, act boldly in your affairs and in your answers to the tyrant, and do not be afraid. They are able to rein in his unbridled and inhumane. Only pray that the divine will grant them longevity and everything possible. These are the things that I abide in May XVI. (16.5.1830)
Of your nobility, the patriot Benedict is willing to follow the commands
The Symaeans send representatives again to explain them. They send a report and the Elders in response give them instructions, informing them about what is happening on the island. The situation with Sukiur Bey becomes very difficult, so he makes them agree.
We have received your pre-sent together with the enclosure of His Excellency. We saw in him that he had a concern for our defence. We have also seen the wise admonitions of the saint-philosophy as to how we should behave with the Socurbey of Rhodes. He is always busy attracting us to himself, sometimes threatening, sometimes peacefully modifying. But we, knowing Him to be evil in all things, and neither in His good nor in His evils, nor are we persuaded, but having our hands outstretched to God, we ask Him first to detach us from this bloodthirsty beast. Asking him and himself for the help promised by H.E., at the same time begging our patriot Mr. Benedict to take measures in our favor, which he knows and supervises, and at the same time the newly appeared defender for you, Mr. Prokopios, whom we beseech to remain in the same care and care, as having authority over all for the common benefit of our country and knowing us all dedicated to our help, For this reason there is no need for verbiage.
From his enclosed letters, you will also be sure of the plot that he has for us, having his tsaousades towards the east without letting anyone pass there for his little fodder. But whoever succeeds is stripped naked, beaten, as yesterday women came to us, insulted and expelled by tsaousas, who grabbed the little zeire they had gathered.
Yesterday, while the crowd was confused about the plot, three tsaousas arrived carrying 600 papers for 100 people. So they immediately ran down to the seashore and expelled them, because we have no way more against him to accept them, asking him for an account of our abusively stolen things from him1.
Therefore do not give a pass, but as soon as you help those who need your help, and you shall receive the reward from God Almighty, amen.
These things we remain so long, but we are fervent supplicants to God
On July 21, 1830 Symi
The inhabitants of the island of Symi are all patriots, young and old.
The situation worsens even more when Shukiur Bey learns of their movements. As soon as Benedict is informed of this, he writes to the Symians: Your courtesy, Mr. Hatzi, dear and other patriotic friends, I am delightfully torn apart.
I have received your letters sent to me at various times and by various means, in common and the same as the enclosed glorious and terrible bougiourdi.2 I was deeply saddened by what the tyrant causes you and still threatens evils, reading even to the holy archimandrite his all-holiness but he stands courageously forever saying let him do what he wants, so that your patriots do not appear to be subjects at all in order to have a defense. I admire his magnanimity, even though I hear that this and that island has been left out, may things be as he thinks.
However, in order not to rely on words alone, I went to Nafplio alone and announced and showed what had been sent, whether it was good and beforehand I sent the precautions to Mr. Michalis Kalafatis3, and both to him and to me the friends said that at present it is nothing more than for your patriots to make the reports to the vice-ambassadors of the three courts, whose names were noted and are sent with the drafts of the reports, as Mr. Michalis composed them excellently and most appropriately, which you will conduct with deliberate discourse to the Governor who is in fact the same author, an educated and virtuous man who is able to stand by the cause and word and deed and I hope to benefit you. This is what you are still doing, and perhaps God will give in to their hearts and they will defend you, either directly or indirectly, because of the desperation of the reports. Mr. Procopius also writes to you, consoling and encouraging you with indescribable zeal.
These things and I abide by your nobility. Aol 7/vrios II.(2.9.1830) All Pending Benedict Patriot.
Benedict's pressure on the Governor brought results and he agrees to help the Symaeans. Benedict announces this to them and advises them how to behave and what to say:
Your dear fellow citizens. Behold, the ambassador sent by you, Mr. Nikandros, returns and carries a letter of consolation. And by mouth he will tell you that they have told him, that is, what they do not trust in the scriptures, and listen and put into practice what has been heard. The said Mr. Nikandros performed his embassy with the utmost honors. After he met me, having received the necessary ingredients, he immediately set out for Nafplio, and through the blessed Golden Dawn, he presented himself to the Government and welcomed him favorably and was examined and received the necessary instructions, likewise at the behest of His Excellency and from the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Takers, and the one that bears an official letter, he finished his embassy in three or four days, while others sat for months and waited. And after he finished the common affairs, he took care of the same things with brevity and received permission to come to the church school that had been established to perfect his lessons. And the man, being a lover of his country, for the sake of the country, chose to come and tell you what he had heard and the letter with his own hands, because such letters should not be disclosed because of the circumstances of the time, and he overlooked what benefit he would have received between his arrival and his return. For these reasons, he despised both winter and dangers only to benefit the homeland at this critical moment. Therefore, you have a duty not only to listen to what is said and to execute the .... that ..... but also to greet him and send him to me in a hurry with the necessary letters. All 4 sealed papers are sent to you because the well-written ones have been judged and they have been translated. What he did not hear from each one, he will tell you in a live voice.
You are obliged to make an exposition from the moment you got up, how long you have endured the revolution, how many Turks you have killed, with whom you are obeyed, how many embassyes you have made from time to time to represent all the things of Mr. Kolettos, who wrote to you what you wrote about him, the things of the late Benjamin, what you gave due to tithes to Miaoulis and to anyone else, that you never worshipped but conducted under the dictation of Benjamin and the customs of the place and whatever else you have listened to with the Greek Administration at the time, to expose everything exactly and occasionally, because it is necessary for the Government to show it to the Forces, as you will learn from the same hierodeacon that he persistently asks him if there has been a police force of the Greek Administration for at least a month. Well, it must be shown with what relations you had with Koletis and with the Administration and with the rebellion and the lifting of arms that prevailed for so long, that you are of course under the Greek Administration, even though you are attributing decimatisms. And all these things with great care and order should be arranged and sent quickly with the one present, and we will not miss an opportunity to expose them as we hope to see him in them. But also expose your nobility by sealing it so that it may be shown. He said about the flag, and we conclude that he means nothing more than to raise a flag of freedom
1 So we see from what is said that the Ottomans did not have state responsibilities in Symi, but acted as an external power, which imposed its will. The Symians had every right to expel them, as they write.
2 Documents of the Bey of Rhodes.
3 Michael Kalafatas-Ioannidis, hieromonk named Nikandros, brother of Konstantinos Simonides' mother. Nikandros will study at the Seminary of Poros.
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and encouraging you with indescribable zeal.
These things and I abide by your nobility. Aol 7/vrios II.(2.9.1830) All Pending Benedict Patriot.
Benedict's pressure on the Governor brought results and he agrees to help the Symaeans. Benedict announces this to them and advises them how to behave and what to say:
Your dear fellow citizens. Behold, the ambassador sent by you, Mr. Nikandros, returns and carries a letter of consolation. And by mouth he will tell you that they have told him, that is, what they do not trust in the scriptures, and listen and put into practice what has been heard. The said Mr. Nikandros performed his embassy with the utmost honors. After he met me, having received the necessary ingredients, he immediately set out for Nafplio, and through the blessed Golden Dawn, he presented himself to the Government and welcomed him favorably and was examined and received the necessary instructions, likewise at the behest of His Excellency and from the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Takers, and the one that bears an official letter, he finished his embassy in three or four days, while others sat for months and waited. And after he finished the common affairs, he took care of the same things with brevity and received permission to come to the church school that had been established to perfect his lessons. And the man, being a lover of his country, for the sake of the country, chose to come and tell you what he had heard and the letter with his own hands, because such letters should not be disclosed because of the circumstances of the time, and he overlooked what benefit he would have received between his arrival and his return. For these reasons, he despised both winter and dangers only to benefit the homeland at this critical moment. Therefore, you have a duty not only to listen to what is said and to execute the .... that ..... but also to greet him and send him to me in a hurry with the necessary letters. All 4 sealed papers are sent to you because the well-written ones have been judged and they have been translated. What he did not hear from each one, he will tell you in a live voice.
You are obliged to make an exposition from the moment you got up, how long you have endured the revolution, how many Turks you have killed, with whom you are obeyed, how many embassyes you have made from time to time to represent all the things of Mr. Kolettos, who wrote to you what you wrote about him, the things of the late Benjamin, what you gave due to tithes to Miaoulis and to anyone else, that you never worshipped but conducted under the dictation of Benjamin and the customs of the place and whatever else you have listened to with the Greek Administration at the time, to expose everything exactly and occasionally, because it is necessary for the Government to show it to the Forces, as you will learn from the same hierodeacon that he persistently asks him if there has been a police force of the Greek Administration for at least a month. Well, it must be shown with what relations you had with Koletis and with the Administration and with the rebellion and the lifting of arms that prevailed for so long, that you are of course under the Greek Administration, even though you are attributing decimatisms. And all these things with great care and order should be arranged and sent quickly with the one present, and we will not miss an opportunity to expose them as we hope to see him in them. But also expose your nobility by sealing it so that it may be shown. He said about the flag, and we conclude that he means nothing more than to raise a flag of freedom, which is Jerusalem's, and do not be afraid to do so. You remained steadfast, magnanimous, the present time demands it. And on the contrary, if any Power comes and hastens you to submit to the Sultan, do not be completely deprived or afraid by resisting. Answer to one point: we are dead, but we do not submit once we have sworn, and we are not separated from the Greek plenum except by slaughter and death, and the like, as Mr. Prokopios, our most fervent supporter, writes to you in particular. And he who is present has heard and seen wants to show you the way in which you should behave in such times. It is a critical time, dear patriots, a time in which those who obeyed forever will be enslaved and become wretched man-legged people who desire death and will not be. And those who resist shall be claimed either for perfect liberty or for the subordination of someone by guarantee and defence, they shall be guaranteed with the security of the one that comes to pass. Take heed, therefore, that you who are indolent, that you have raised your paralyzed knees, that you have been awakened, because if by your negligence and by your death you have become the cause of the enslavement of the country, not only will you be on the gallows and eternal reproach, but you will also have a terrible word answered by the impartial judge for the many souls that have been enslaved because of you. Take care and not only you but also the adjacent islands as much as you can pick up and urge them to send a report and it will be in your good and interest. Your tyrant inevitably rises, only if you plan to receive your compensation until the minute. And you have made a report to the Venerable Governor, setting forth exactly the damages and evils that the tyrant has done to you from time to time, commonly and partially, you will include the accounts of both the public and the public with all the danes, and you will fervently beg him to send where he belongs. These are the things I have been living in Poros since October. (28.10.1830)
Your nobility is all willing to follow your commands, Patriot Benedict.
Finally, in November 1830, Kapodistrias, seeing that the Sporades were subject to a different regime1, agreed to help them to address the ambassadors of the Great Powers in Constantinople as an autonomous region and achieve what they were asking for:
"To the Residents of the Island of Symi. We received through the deliberate envoy of you, Mr. Michael Ioannidou, your report on the 10th of this day, and considering the report of the troubles surrounding your island, we promptly proceeded. We are hopeful that you will do a salvific work in your homeland, if you appoint as soon as possible those sent to your island, entrusting them to depart for Constantinople and retreat to the Most Excellency Ambassadors of the three Allied Courts, and to expose with a living voice your present and future calamities, requesting their healing and cessation through their powerful intercession, so that not only may you enjoy your already seized ships and the cargoes in them, through the protection of Your Excellency Admirals of the Allied Powers, but also that the abuses and oppressions which are already plaguing your country will cease from now on. In Nafplio on November 12, 1830, THE GOVERNOR, I.A. Kapodistrias".2
The people of Symi elected a committee to go to Constantinople, with letters of recommendation from Kapodistrias and the Vice-Ambassadors of the Great Powers in Nafplio, to speak with the Ambassadors there and the Patriarch: "The inhabitants of the Island of Symi elected from among us Messrs. Simon and Nikandros Ioannidis (and with them Mr. Diakos Gianneskis, an expert for a need for the accounts of the Commons between Rhodes) to submit ambassadors to the Constantinople, giving them the power of attorney, and if their expenses do not arrive, or if money is needed to demand our common cause, they shall therefore receive ..... present sealed. On December 15, 1830, Symi"23. The election was accompanied by a binding resolution, due to the disputes that existed on the island.
The mandate they had was: either union with Greece or independence with the regime before the revolution. The struggle was difficult, since the Great Powers had other plans for the islands. They had with them all the Sultan's firmans, the main one being Suleiman's Hatt-i Humayun (1549). It was optimistic and informative. They explained all the actions they had taken in Nafplio and what they would do in Constantinople.
After continuous consultations, in Constantinople3, they convinced the Ambassadors of the three Great Powers, as well as Patriarch Constantius I, that their homeland and the other southern Sporades had never been part of the Ottoman State, but that it was under a special status, based on the Treaty of Suleiman. As a result of the negotiations, the Great Powers temporarily accepted, A special regime for the islands, the regime was called the "Extraordinary Greek State of the Eastern Sporades". Besides, the Turkish-Greek border had not yet been definitively determined. They also managed to expel Shukur Bey from Rhodes, the bishop of Rhodes and the Abbot of Panormitis, who were the reasons for closing the School of Agia Marina while serving the Bey.
The Symians succeeded mainly because of Benedict, who had friendships in high echelons of Constantinople, but also because of the Symians, the Fotiades brothers, who were teachers of the consul of Russia and his children. Apart from the Nisyrians, no one else from the Dodecanese helped the Symians. In the second phase, the people of Kastelorizo and Chalkites helped. These efforts show the great contribution and patriotism of Benedict.
The Ecclesiastical School of Poros.
The Ecclesiastical School was the pride of Kapodistrias. That is why the way it operated and staffed was the subject of intense criticism on the part of the anti-Kapodistrian supporters. «... Their virtue (of the teachers) consisted only in long prayer and thorough abstinence, and in everything else that constitutes monastic and even Athonite hypocrisy, or the false glory according to the Gospel and the right word. But just as Kapodistrias did not pay complete attention to the common reputation and glory in the political ministries, as a despot, so in ecclesiastical matters. The said (teachers), and especially the latter, certainly did not have the common reputation in their favor, and there were others who were better than the said ones, if they were asked, and if the school was indeed an ecclesiastical store, from which a benefit was to be derived. Kapodistrias cared so much about the education of the Greek clergy"! (National Newspaper, op. cit., pp. 90-91).
The accusation is clearly formulated: "the cause of the unacceptable situation in the School is the authoritarian policy of Kapodistrias, which does not even take into account public opinion. The personal way of making decisions proved once again to be catastrophic, and in fact in a particularly important area, such as the Church." Kapodistrias, in the opinion of the columnist, preferred to sacrifice the common good in order to consolidate his power. With a non-meritocratic political perception, he also appointed the teachers of the ecclesiastical school, despite the obvious lack of the necessary qualifications on their part4.
In reality, Kapodistrias wants pure people around him, but the establishment wants people from his own circles. In the end, no one wants this School and it is clear from the document of the Governor of Poros dated 8.7.18325.
Prokopios Dendrinos writes a book that refers to the Holy Fire. What he writes is summarized in the following: "I prefer the 'atheists' who openly reject every case of miracle on the subject of the 'Holy Light' to the concealment of the truth for whatever reason." The book stirs up the officials of the church and they ask for "the head of Dendrinos on a platter". Kapodistrias is forced to, to cease Dendrinos' debts to the School and to force him to depart outside the country, with a document sent to Benedict. So he goes to Mount Athos6. Benedict lives alone in Poros, to manage the School.
At this time, the revolution of the people of Hydra and Mani against Kapodistrias was at its peak. On July 22, 1831, Miaoulis' forces had occupied the hinterland of the island of Poros as well as the fleet that was chartered on the island. The overwhelming majority of the inhabitants of Poros enthusiastically sided with Miaoulis, under the local chieftain Christodoulos Mexis. Government officials left the island. The fleets of England, France and Russia, forced the rebels to withdraw. Miaoulis did not accept and threatened to blow up the ships of the fleet if the army landed. The English admiral Ricord did not take the threat seriously and disembarked 150 men.
Miaoulis immediately blew up the magnificent two-decker "HELLAS" with 64 guns, the corvette "HYDRA", while he also lit the fuse on the steam-powered "KARTERIA", which was literally saved at the last moment thanks to the Mykonian sailor G. Galasidis. In August, in the beautiful city of Poros, which was left untouched by the Revolution, unheard-of looting took place by government soldiers who found an opportunity for looting, while rapes and beatings took place.
In this situation, the School of Poros, a creation of Kapodistrias, was in the sights of the opposition. Benedict could not withstand all these pressures. On September 4, 1831, he wrote a letter to Kapodistrias, shortly before his assassination (27.9.1831): "Because my superiors from Mount Athos also invite me to go to our Coenobium, and deliberately sent a man of a few days, I am forced to mention with regret to the A.E.E. my resignation from the Ecclesiastical School. However, in order that the Teacher's Shop would not remain deserted, I decided to stay this month as well, until the S.K. foresees that a teacher will be restored to it, so that he can undertake this divine work."7 So he leaves Poros.
The return to the Monastery of St. Panteleimon of the Russians
The two monks, Benedict and Dendrinos, have since remained in the Russian Monastery of St. Panteleimon on Mount Athos for the rest of their lives. Benedict also teaches at the Theological School of Halki, a co-teacher of Valtholomeos Koutloumousianos from Imbros (who became Schoolmaster, 1840 - 1846).8
Benedict was well acquainted with the art of manuscripts from the Classical abstention and taught it to Constantine Simonides. So we understand the origin of Constantine's admirable knowledge. Benedict, in addition to the styles, materials, style and procedures of each era, was also very well aware of the contents of the manuscripts. He was an excellent philologist and theologian, as evidenced by Constantine's knowledge, since he was his only real teacher.
One of Benedict's achievements is the "Codex of Sinai". The one that Tischendorf "discovered" thrown in the trash in the Sinai. Simonides, who was the scribe of the Codex, proved that it was the work of old Benedict. The Codex had been handed over by Simonides to Patriarch Constantius, who sent it to Sinai. From a correspondence of Oikonomou of Oikonomou we see that Constantius I, who served as Abbot of Sinai, an excellent connoisseur of palaeography, would not have thrown away a Codex of such value. The monks, however, paid no attention to him. It was found by Tischendorf and is now in the British Museum.
He wrote the unpublished Gospel of Easter published by M. Gideon (Anatolikos Astir of Constantinople X 114-15). He also wrote the service to Axion Estin (1854) and the service to all Saints Anargyroi, which was approved by Gregory V, and praises and services to various Saints (anecdotes).9
Benedict died on 28.5.1840 and Archimandrite Prokopios Dendrinos from Ithaca died on 14.8.1848. In the last period of their lives, they both devoted themselves to studies and writings of ecclesiastical works, in collaboration with Oikonomou of Oikonomou, the Patriarchs Constantius I and Anthimos IV, as well as with the brothers, Alexandros Sturtzas and Countess Edling (Roxane Sturdza). The two Sturtzas brothers were closely related to Ioannis Kapodistrias. Benedict and Dendrinos also knew very well Zacharias Sakharov, Russia's consul in Constantinople, and many other scholars of their time. His relatives were also the Fotiadis brothers from Symi, for many years teachers in schools and private ones in the homes of personalities in Constantinople31.
1 The Southern Sporades, led by Symi, had managed to be included by Suleiman the Magnificent in a special regime in 1549. They paid tribute but were completely autonomous.
2 G.A.K Archives 23 G.A.K. Archives
3 The minutes of these consultations are recorded by Panagiotis Skiathitis in his unpublished book, "THE HISTORY OF SYMI". A book that needs to be published. From this book, the history of this place becomes more comprehensible.
4 Annita Prassa, op. cit., p.278, 294-295.
5 G.S.A. archive 096.
6 June – July 1831, G.A.K. 242
7 G.A.K. Archive
8 Tryfonos Evangelidou "Education under the Ottoman Rule" Volume A p. 49
9 Tryfonos Evangelidou "Education under the Ottoman Rule" Volume B. (School of Symi) 31Tryfonos Evangelidou "Education under the Ottoman Rule" Volume A. Schools of Constantinople.
THE "SIPAHIS" OF SYMI (1764-1840)
BY NIKOLOS FARMAKIDIS
CIVIL ENGINEERING
INTRODUCTION
In my historical research on Symi, I came across the name of Benedict the Russian1, a Symian teacher of the School of Agia Marina, at the beginning of the 19th century. Most of the teachers of Symi, of the 18th and 19th centuries, were great personalities of the intelligentsia, although this is not so well known, but it is something that is easily ascertained from the references in this field.
When I read the book by Rüdiger Schaper, editor-in-chief of the cultural department of Tagespiegel: "The Odyssey of the forger Constantine Simonides2", where he describes Benedict as a dark person, it created a contradiction in me. He describes him as "...At the age of ten, Simonides will find himself in Aegina, in a model school founded by Kapodistrias, managing to get rid of his perverted uncle. But when he returns to the island, he is there and continues. The prospect of going to study in Athens excites him, but he despairs when he learns that he will have to follow first the divine Benedict in some monasteries of the North".
Despite his investigations, Schaper does not know who Benedict was and what he did. Sapper's description aims to degrade Simonides' environment, so that the theory of maladaptability stands. The real events are completely different and I describe them in my book on Simonides.
What Schaper writes are inventions. He mocks Simonides who says that Benedict was Abbot. A little research, however, leaves us surprised by the indisputable personality and the greatness of his character, as evidenced by dozens of public documents, accessible to everyone.
Reading Benedict's correspondence with the Symians, the then Government, as well as with Kapodistrias himself, but also ascertaining the trust he showed him, we see the appreciation of everyone, especially the Governor who considered him one of the great teachers of the Nation.
The first years of his life.
The hierodeacon Benedict the Russian, nicknamed Spiachios or Sypachios, was called Michael Papaioannou. Simonides also calls him Vissarion (obviously a temporary nickname that we find when he was in Kydonies). He was born in Symi in 1760 and died on Mount Athos on 28.5.1840. He was a relative of Simonides' mother, Maria Kalafata. Simonides' father was Simon Hadjikostas. The name Simonides was taken by Simon's children, when they were registered in the municipal registers of liberated Greece. At this time, everyone took surnames and those who had a high education, took the father's name with the ending in -idis or -adis.
Benedict spent his first school years in Symi and was tonsured as a monk, in the Monastery of St. Panteleimon of the Russians on Mount Athos. Hence the name Russian. The archives of the Athonite School show that she studied there until the end of 1770, together with Prokopios Dendrinos from Ithaca, with whom she was connected by a deep friendship and stayed together all the years of their lives.
In Kydonies, the first settler, Ioannis Oikonomou, established a School in the Church of Kato Panagia, to which Eugenios from Vryoulon and then Vissarion from Symaeus3, Theodosios (Romakas) from Mountania, Georgios of Crete and last Grigorios Sarafis were invited as teachers. This School was maintained until 1799, then it was converted into an Academy (1800).4
Benedict as a teacher at the School of Agia Marina in Symi.
So Benedict from Kydonies was invited along with Prokopios to teach at the School of Agia Marina in Symi. It was one of the prominent Academies of the wider Greek area, as noted by Konstantinos Vardalachos in his book "Rhetorical Art Composed for the Benefit of the Greek Youth". He mentions its schools: Chios, Smyrna, Kydonia, Patmos, Athens, Symi, Milia, Messovo, two Ioannina, Odessa, Iași, Bucharest.
The School of Agia Marina was founded in the middle of the 18th century. At first as a simple school and then, from 1765, as a higher School according to the standards of the "Academy". Agia Marina was founded with money from the Symbian Chancellor5 Kallistratos Georgaris, who was the locum tenens of the stavropegic I.M. of Michael Roukouniotis and with contributions from the inhabitants of Symi.
Several students were also sent abroad at the expense of the Panormitis Monastery, the Community or individuals, to study. Among them, Kon. Vardalachos, N. Vamvas, Benedict (Vas. Vissarion), P. Rodios etc.
From the beginning of the 19th century, the School was in great prosperity, and was also an economic factor of the island. In all the churches of the island, there was a box for collecting money. The "Common" borrowed large sums from it, as did the merchants. It was directed by the Ephors (commissioners), two of whom were elected by the people for a three-year term and presided over by the respective Protogeros. The most literate was a grammarian and treasurer. From time to time, Chatzinikitas Kladakiou, Chatzivasilis Bernas, Kyrnikolas Fotaklas and others served as commissioners of the School.
On the eve of the Revolution, its teachers were initiated into the Friendly Society. So they made the School a basic initiation center for all the inhabitants of the Southern Sporades. A three-member committee of teachers, Nikandros Philadelphus Georgiadis as president, and Benedict and Procopius as members, was tasked with catechizing the members of the Friendly Society. Obviously, the work was assigned to them by the Patriarch of Patmos of Alexandria, Theophilos. Theophilos had left his headquarters and lived in Patmos to support the Greek Revolution.
From 1799 to 1820, the commissioners of the School of Agia Marina were Agapitos Hatziagapitos Hatziioannou and Nikolas Papa-Nikitas Hallaris. Hatziagapitos studied at the School during the first years of its establishment. He wrote very clearly and was very formal and meticulous. For this reason, the "Deuterion6" (book of the School's treasury), which has survived, has plenty of information about the School.
The financial power of the School was channeled into the revolutionary mechanism by the Friends. So friction was created on the island with the Notables who did not want to participate in the Greek Revolution. They finally managed to close the school in 1820, supported by Shukur Bey of Rhodes. The Ottomans did not have administrative jurisdiction over Symi, but it did not cease to be subordinate to the Sultan and the Ottomans influenced what was happening with the help of their own people.
Some of the Notables considered that the economic and administrative regime that existed due to the Ottoman Empire was the most ideal for the island, while the rest put patriotism above economic and social interests, wanting to participate in the Greek Revolution. The main core of the second group were the teachers and students of the School. For this reason, the opposing group said that the School became a nursery for educated weeds, i.e. young people who faced the common things of the island with innovative perceptions, which was the creation of free Nation States, outside empires.
Thus, the School of Agia Marina in 1820 will disappear from the face of the earth. In fact, such was the fury that no stone was left unturned, as the Symians would later recount. Its teachers will be expelled from the island.
Benedict took the nickname Sypachio or Spiachos because he was the most ardent supporter of the liberation from the Turkish yoke. Because of his fanaticism, the Symians saw him as a fighter of Religion, a "spahi". He maintained this fighting spirit throughout his life.
Return to the Monastery of St. Panteleimon on Mount Athos and the revolution of Mount Athos.
Benedict and Prokopios left Symi, as did the other teachers. The two took refuge in their monastery, Saint Panteleimon of the Russians. However, after the revolution of the Monks of Mount Athos in March 1821 and its suppression in December, the conditions imposed by the Turks on the monasteries were very onerous: 3,000 pouches7 , i.e. 1,500,000 piastres in war compensation. Survival on Mount Athos was impossible. with the intervention of Patriarch Theophilos, they migrated with the belongings of the monasteries to Nafplio and Poros.
On November 6, 1822, the Minister of Religion of Androusa, Joseph (later Metropolitan of Messene), reports that, from the Commune of the Holy Monastery of the Russians, where it is located on Mount Athos, their Coenobiarch Mr. Benedict and the rest of the most venerable fathers, after the destruction of Mount Athos, fled here to the Peloponnese8.
The same minister: "sent a faithful and worthy man to the island of Poros with the Athonite people, who recorded all the sacred relics and utensils". He also timidly throws down the opinion: "because the nation now more than ever has the greatest need and is given money ... And there are no lenders from elsewhere, I consider it advantageous and necessary and holy to redeem from the sacred vessels some" "superfluous sanctuaries", "useless vessels", in exchange for "national confessions" that will be issued by the Parliament. It is hereby decided,
"the Administration should send well-known people, who with an exact list will receive them and bring them here (Corinth) and then the Administration will take care of their safety and what is proper".8 In the end, it was decided to send the utensils to Hydra. Benedict from 6.1822 to 11.1825 was in the Monastery of Zoodochos Spring of Poros and co-signed documents for the sale of utensils9.
The appointment of Kapodistrias as Governor on 18.1.1828 gives hope of support to the people of Mount Athos. In 1829, they wanted to return to Mount Athos with their sacred utensils and other belongings, which had been handed over to the notables of Hydra and Spetses. In the G.S.A. we find a series of letters, signed by Benedict as abbot of the Monastery of the Russians. In a letter, Kyrillos Iviritis and Gabriel Xiropotamitis sign with him:
”Your Excellency the Governor, Because, as it is known and well-known, not only did the Koinon of Hydra receive from the dynastic things of Mount Athos brought to Hydra, sufficient silver in blades, and sacred silver vessels, they unjustly valued them at 25 parades per dram, and at 5 thousand piastres of the late Damaskinos before Iberia, but also some Captains and pirates robberly and tyrannically received from the Iberians tal. 525: And from the Russians capable silverware, and other miscellaneous kinds, as it is mentioned in the On Their Registers. For these reasons, the same pirate received their ship unjustly, similarly the then abbot of their monastery received their cloak for 600 piastres. For these things, therefore, which were unjustly taken from the public, and those seized from the Hydraians in part, we beg the Ven. Cub. To order that the compensation of these be made to us, as dictated by her godliness, and by her incomparable zeal for the sacred Katagogia, so that we may answer our enormous debts, and especially those to the other races,10 and we will be for life. Aol August 16th" (16.8.1830).
Benedict on 17.8.1830 writes: "Your Excellency the Governor, And all the Saints are indebted to the H.A.E. for the special reverence, defense and care towards the sanctuaries of Mount Athos, which he has shown since the hour he sailed in Greece, and shows to this day, both by word and deed and by all the powers protecting, helping and from his relatives. And we Russians know the graces to be infinite, and the Coenobium as long as it resides, is indebted to H.E. because of its unparalleled zeal, which it has about the divine, it has not suffered at all to have its sacred vessels handed over, and to be condemned by the debtors, but to the general other things of philobition it was also honored for this poor Coenobium, not only to send unharmed what was left of the abduction of the Hydra people before its God-sent coming, and of the abducted and robbed the appreciation to be given to those wronged, but also the obvious debt of K:K: she was present with such a representation to take off, that not only did she lower the required quantity to less than 1/3, but she also paid 5600 piastres of them from herself, For this reason alone, so that these sacred vessels would not be hindered, but would be contracted with the other things of the Holy Mountain, and so he relieved us of this burden, and the Commune and the sacred vessels should be included without restraint. For which we are most certainly for life, and what a Coenobium as long as it is preserved, we are obliged to pray for H.E., ranking it with the late founders of the monastery. This is what we remain: Your Excellency."
The correspondence between the Government and the Monasteries, where Benedict always signs as Abbot of the Russians, is long. Kapodistrias appreciated the personality and knowledge of Benedict. So he did not let him return to Mount Athos and placed him in 1829 as a teacher at the School of Spetses.
One of the great visions of Kapodistrias was the education of the clergy. For this reason, at the suggestion of Alex. Strutzas and Oikonomou from Oikonomou created the Ecclesiastical School of Poros, which was founded in February 1830 and began its work in November 1830.
? considered Benedict more suitable to administer and teach at the School, but he humbly considered himself incapable of managing a School and asked to be assisted by Dendrinos. The humility of the man and the greatness of his soul are shown by the following letter he sent to Kapodistrias: "Your Excellency: Knowing my illnesses and natural shortcomings, I wrote it earlier in August about my incompetence in public affairs, and not to give a hearing to the deceitful people. They have a god about me who is unworthy, but because I was not heard, and I was burdened with the one who set out a school for me, but I gave my word for my infinite respect for her, not taking time for the rape, and for the immediate entry of the brethren to explain to her the things about myself, for this reason I am already bold, and I ask forgiveness for this boldness, Your Excellency, because of my natural deficiencies, I find it difficult to bear this burden, because such commonalities will make them bold, outspoken, sloppy in speech, as Mr. Prokopios, and I am unfortunate of these. To this I ask you to entrust the authority and supervision of the school, the organization and the duty of examining the students, so that progress can be made and ... and guide in everything, because he is very sloppy in his speech, most memorable, extreme in the zeal of faith, most capable of living. He abandons the cacodox and atheists, most picturesque, said another. Therefore, for these and other merits and according to the profession, as an archimandrite and the one who possesses the word, he must receive the protection of the
1 BENEDICTUS (teacher Mr. Benedict, Russian deacon of Simiakos, sic a Lampros vocatus. C.A.. II. 452). Compossuitifficium sanctorum Anargyrorum, Lampros. Ibid., 445 etacoluthiam festi ab Axion estin dicti. Ibid., 452; acoluthiam verotis Zoodochos Pigis retractavit, I 381. HYMNOGRAPHI BYZANTINI, QUORUM NOMINA IN LITTERA DIGESSIT NOTULISQUE ADORNAVIT. C. ÈMEREAU.
2 Konstantinos Simonides is considered a great forger. He was born in Symi in 1820 and died in Alexandria in 1867. In fact, he was a very good connoisseur of palaeography, old manuscripts and Greek literature.
3 Konstantinos Simonides, in his book, refers to him as Benedict and Vissarion.
4 Tryfonos Evangelidou "Education during the Turkish occupation". Volume B. page 256
5 The word is etymologized from the words plus + cell, by extension it means monk in a commune (hence Chancellor).
6 See Museum of the Holy Metropolis of Panormitis. I was kindly given a copy for study by the Holy Metropolis of Symi, which I thank.
7 From the Latin pugio, 1 pouch = 500 piastres. 8 G.A.K.
8 G.A.K Archives
9 General State Archives
10 Taxes and compensations that the monasteries of St. conditions they had to give to the Ottoman Government.
=============================
Saints are indebted to the H.A.E. for the special reverence, defense and care towards the sanctuaries of Mount Athos, which he has shown since the hour he sailed in Greece, and shows to this day, both by word and deed and by all the powers protecting, helping and from his relatives. And we Russians know the graces to be infinite, and the Coenobium as long as it resides, is indebted to H.E. because of its unparalleled zeal, which it has about the divine, it has not suffered at all to have its sacred vessels handed over, and to be condemned by the debtors, but to the general other things of philobition it was also honored for this poor Coenobium, not only to send unharmed what was left of the abduction of the Hydra people before its God-sent coming, and of the abducted and robbed the appreciation to be given to those wronged, but also the obvious debt of K:K: she was present with such a representation to take off, that not only did she lower the required quantity to less than 1/3, but she also paid 5600 piastres of them from herself, For this reason alone, so that these sacred vessels would not be hindered, but would be contracted with the other things of the Holy Mountain, and so he relieved us of this burden, and the Commune and the sacred vessels should be included without restraint. For which we are most certainly for life, and what a Coenobium as long as it is preserved, we are obliged to pray for H.E., ranking it with the late founders of the monastery. This is what we remain: Your Excellency."
The correspondence between the Government and the Monasteries, where Benedict always signs as Abbot of the Russians, is long. Kapodistrias appreciated the personality and knowledge of Benedict. So he did not let him return to Mount Athos and placed him in 1829 as a teacher at the School of Spetses.
One of the great visions of Kapodistrias was the education of the clergy. For this reason, at the suggestion of Alex. Strutzas and Oikonomou from Oikonomou created the Ecclesiastical School of Poros, which was founded in February 1830 and began its work in November 1830.
Kapodistrias considered Benedict more suitable to administer and teach at the School, but he humbly considered himself incapable of managing a School and asked to be assisted by Dendrinos. The humility of the man and the greatness of his soul are shown by the following letter he sent to Kapodistrias: "Your Excellency: Knowing my illnesses and natural shortcomings, I wrote it earlier in August about my incompetence in public affairs, and not to give a hearing to the deceitful people. They have a god about me who is unworthy, but because I was not heard, and I was burdened with the one who set out a school for me, but I gave my word for my infinite respect for her, not taking time for the rape, and for the immediate entry of the brethren to explain to her the things about myself, for this reason I am already bold, and I ask forgiveness for this boldness, Your Excellency, because of my natural deficiencies, I find it difficult to bear this burden, because such commonalities will make them bold, outspoken, sloppy in speech, as Mr. Prokopios, and I am unfortunate of these. To this I ask you to entrust the authority and supervision of the school, the organization and the duty of examining the students, so that progress can be made and ... and guide in everything, because he is very sloppy in his speech, most memorable, extreme in the zeal of faith, most capable of living. He abandons the cacodox and atheists, most picturesque, said another. Therefore, for these and other merits and according to the profession, as an archimandrite and the one who possesses the word, he must receive the protection of the school, and I must be an assistant. So I believe that her deepest wisdom has planned them, but for the peace of my thoughts, I mention them, and I ask her to rest me with respect for the notice, because otherwise I find it difficult, forgive me, that I am forced to disobey for my shortcomings, I leave the peaceful, which was the most important thing to me, and so that I do not seem so disobedient and unyielding...., pertaining to her most pious and most charitable purpose, which may be successful in her appeal. 1830 Jan 21. The humblest servant of Benedict.
P.S. I beg you not to deceive me in this, because my desire for happiness and my natural inclination for it compel me to behave and write in this way. And now, if he wanted to do the omission of a monk incapable of resting, he would know grace to the greatest extent."1
Benedict, in order to convince Kapodistrias that Prokopios had identical views with his Governor, writes on 18.9.1830 (GAK 059) "Your Excellency the Governor: When Mr. Prokopios came here, I showed him the messages sent by Your Excellency about the Ecclesiastical School, and all the regulations and restrictions, and he accepted all of them with great pleasure, saying "and in fact I want them too, God gave in to the heart of our revered Governor to order so." Therefore, because the brother has become pregnant, no proposal is lacking. Therefore, I undertake with my brother Mr. Prokopios this burden that is entrusted to us, which is great for me as well, devoting ourselves to the above all-powerful help, and to her paternal defense and relief from all the difficulties and against my natural qualities and shortcomings, both from outside, and may we appear worthy of your prayers, and novices."2
Kapodistrias therefore accepts the position of both. Benedict as Curator of the School, Prokopios as Director of Courses and Abbot of Zoodochos Pigi as administrator. Later, Benedict also took over the management.
Benedict next to the rebellious Symi.
Symi participates in the Revolution, by decision of the general assembly of its inhabitants on 16.8.1821. The flag of the revolution, which was raised in the Castle by the brother of Nikandros Georgiadis, Themistocles, had: "the whole plain is purple, in the middle a white holy Cross, on the footstool of the crescent red downhill, on the right antenna of the cross an anchor from top to bottom along the length of the cross, The trunk of the anchor should be joined to the end of the horn of the cross and it is white, on it in a serpent a green cross-turned, whose head is sloping, on the other side a white spear, in the middle of it a small red flag, having two white eyes".3 They raise the same flag on their ships.
At the first national assembly on 20.12.1821, Benedict was officially elected to represent Symi. However, he asked for his replacement, because the representatives should not be clergy. The Symians did not have time to send a replacement.
In 1922 Symi was incorporated into the new Greek State and Mr. Ioannis Psarakis was appointed Deputy Regent of Symi, Episcopate (Tilos) and Nisyros, on May 4, 1822.
The assembly of the Egyptian fleet in Rhodes in 1823 cut off the Symaeans from the rebellious Greeks and forced them to take down the flag from the island and from their ships. Then, Benedict advised them to raise the flag of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem as revolutionary4. We saw this flag in the churches of Symi until the 1950s, since the Symians considered their island unredeemed. Of course, the last generations did not know why they were raising it, so it was forgotten and now it does not exist.
In the meantime, the Turks declare a holy war against the "infidels" and Russia declares war against Turkey (14.4.1828). The London Protocol (February 3, 1830) initially defined the boundaries of Greece, but Symi and the other islands of the Sporades were left out.
The Symians, monitoring the situation, reacted immediately by sending representatives to pressure the government. Everything was fluid and could overturn decisions. They addressed the Governor (26.9.28), and he replied in October 1828 that the Government could not do anything for Symi and that they should not fight with each other.
So Kapodistrias did not pay due attention, since all Greeks asked for the same. Thus, they resorted to their compatriot Benedict, knowing his relations with the Governor (11.8.29). "Your Venerable Philosopher, And our dear patriot Mr. Benedict... We ask that the salvation sought and the freedom from the tyrants be made as soon as possible, eternal and not temporary. The benefits of our country are made known by the bearer Mr. Simon Hatzikostas. We remain in response and good execution. Those who live on the island of Symi all together with women and children, dear patriots Hatzigapitos Hatziioannou, Simon Hatzikonstas, Diakos Hatzidiakou. The Secretary M. Manuel".
Benedict recounts the situation to Kapodistrias (Sept. 1829) and begs him: "..about which I beg you to listen to her usual long-suffering to the deliberately sent envoy, Mr. Simon, and you will know everything very precisely." 5In the same letter, he begs Kapodistrias to accept that Simon's children, Konstantinos and Photios, will be apprentices at the new School founded by the Governor in the Orphanage of Aegina.
The efforts are intensified with the help of Benedict. We read his letters as they were preserved in the archives of Panagiotis Skiathitis, physician and elder of Symi. These letters are recorded in his unpublished book. Benedict writes in the Elders of Symi: I overjoy the nobility we coveted6.
I also received the letter of October, written by the dear of the same case, about which I also reported with Mr. Michalakis Bogiatzis, and noted that even before with Mr. Simonos, to whom I replied at the time. And since you write to me again about the same things, I do not fail to note that I try as much as I can on matters, and may the divine finish it and our desire, if it is his will. And His Excellency strives more than we do, except neither the one who wills nor runs, but the god who pleases. According to them, as he passed through Petzes in a side of the country, he immediately came forward about his homeland, and said to me: Pray I want and I am trying and God will end it. But he ordered the captain of the naval squadron to defend the island that now has your island and to answer the disturbances of the neighbors. So he showed the help? I hope because what His Excellency says everything must be true and acted upon. These things are short, and I will stay.
On December VII (7.12.1829) the fellow elders of the Archbishop of Canterbury and all the patriots alike.
Your Nobility is completely suspended
Benedict patriot
Benedict is in Spetses, the Ecclesiastical School of Poros has not yet operated. The Symiacs, with Benedict and Procopius as advisors, knowing from within what should happen, pressed more and more. Benedict advises them on how to act and what to write in their report:
Your longed-for nobility I tear myself apart from the nobility of my soul.
Her various letters were received concerning her health and the country, before which I replied once and twice, but I do not know whether you received them. For your health I rejoice and I pray that the Lord will grant you a dwelling for life.
For the state of the country I am extremely sorry if it has not yet undergone any change. They mentioned twice and three times his excellency, about whom the letters were projected. He replied that we are not lacking in action, but that this stands in the presence of the three Powers, and may God give in to their hearts to extend the boundaries of Greece and to include all the islands. For the time being, however, he said, I have ordered the squadron commander in those places to defense and in response to the disturbances from the neighbors. That's what he told me, what can't happen, I don't know. I have written these things to you before, both through Syros and through Simon (of whom I have no information that is found), but I have not received any reply, so I am not absent and with the present patriot to inform you about them, and write to me, if you insist on this by agreement, send a capable secular man equipped with common letters, stating that at the beginning of the revolution you raised arms, you did these and these things, you suffered these and that, and by being far away, and the help of the navy of Greece was difficult, you bowed down to it. But you are not absent at all times, by consulting with the parliament and sending ambassadors, as well as in the Municipal Assembly we appointed our patriot Benedict as plenipotentiary, but he renounced it as unfamiliar and as long as we voted for another, the time has passed. However, we sent Mr. Simon and then other letters through Mr. B. begging us not to part with the rest of the free islands but to be part of the free Greece, these and even more and most convincingly to write to the Government so that you may be introduced to the nation and to appear in the Senate if it is approved by his Excellency, which will take the place of the Municipal Assembly and in case of urgent need regarding the boundaries, a National Assembly will be established shortly and the one who has been sent by you with the power of attorney will be present. Consider, therefore, if you insist on the same opinion, and in
1 G.A.K Archives
2 G.A.K Archives
3 Archive of the Univ. Skiathitis, from his unpublished book The History of Symi.
4 The islands had to appear to have rebelled, in order to be able to join the dialogue with the Great Powers and claim their integration into the Greek State.
5 G.A.K. Archive
6 In all his letters he addresses Hatziagapitos, as the first Elder, he knows him very well from the School of Agia Marina.
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divine finish it and our desire, if it is his will. And His Excellency strives more than we do, except neither the one who wills nor runs, but the god who pleases. According to them, as he passed through Petzes in a side of the country, he immediately came forward about his homeland, and said to me: Pray I want and I am trying and God will end it. But he ordered the captain of the naval squadron to defend the island that now has your island and to answer the disturbances of the neighbors. So he showed the help? I hope because what His Excellency says everything must be true and acted upon. These things are short, and I will stay.
On December VII (7.12.1829) the fellow elders of the Archbishop of Canterbury and all the patriots alike.
Your Nobility is completely suspended
Benedict patriot
Benedict is in Spetses, the Ecclesiastical School of Poros has not yet operated. The Symiacs, with Benedict and Procopius as advisors, knowing from within what should happen, pressed more and more. Benedict advises them on how to act and what to write in their report:
Your longed-for nobility I tear myself apart from the nobility of my soul.
Her various letters were received concerning her health and the country, before which I replied once and twice, but I do not know whether you received them. For your health I rejoice and I pray that the Lord will grant you a dwelling for life.
For the state of the country I am extremely sorry if it has not yet undergone any change. They mentioned twice and three times his excellency, about whom the letters were projected. He replied that we are not lacking in action, but that this stands in the presence of the three Powers, and may God give in to their hearts to extend the boundaries of Greece and to include all the islands. For the time being, however, he said, I have ordered the squadron commander in those places to defense and in response to the disturbances from the neighbors. That's what he told me, what can't happen, I don't know. I have written these things to you before, both through Syros and through Simon (of whom I have no information that is found), but I have not received any reply, so I am not absent and with the present patriot to inform you about them, and write to me, if you insist on this by agreement, send a capable secular man equipped with common letters, stating that at the beginning of the revolution you raised arms, you did these and these things, you suffered these and that, and by being far away, and the help of the navy of Greece was difficult, you bowed down to it. But you are not absent at all times, by consulting with the parliament and sending ambassadors, as well as in the Municipal Assembly we appointed our patriot Benedict as plenipotentiary, but he renounced it as unfamiliar and as long as we voted for another, the time has passed. However, we sent Mr. Simon and then other letters through Mr. B. begging us not to part with the rest of the free islands but to be part of the free Greece, these and even more and most convincingly to write to the Government so that you may be introduced to the nation and to appear in the Senate if it is approved by his Excellency, which will take the place of the Municipal Assembly and in case of urgent need regarding the boundaries, a National Assembly will be established shortly and the one who has been sent by you with the power of attorney will be present. Consider, therefore, if you insist on the same opinion, and in agreement with you, send such a decent man, capable in words and virtuous to appear and be present. And if the disagreement is still, you calm down and take care of the thing, and beseech the holy God to provide for you according to His holy will. I am thinking about these things, I am writing under patriotism, moving and as the holy god enlightens you, you will do. I wholeheartedly divide all the notables of the homeland and its fellow elders and let them reflect on what is written and choose the interests of the homeland. And be careful not to interfere with me, because the Government does not accept monks, nor do I. Her whole family was torn apart and I remained of the nobility of the completely suspended Benedict patriot of February 28 (28.2.1830).
The representatives, Simon Hatzikostas and Hatziagapitos Hatziioannou, with a letter of recommendation from Benedict in May 1830, visit Augustinos Kapodistrias. They ask him for guidance, so that they can turn to Constantinople, since they cannot in Greece, in order to achieve the rights of their island. They want their freedom or at least to restore the previous regime.
However, the positions of the island are not understood, since on May 9, 1830, the Governor in response to their efforts writes: "To the High Priest and Notables of the island of Symi. We have received your letter of 16/28 March, and we have accepted with the utmost sympathy the wishes expressed to us on your behalf by Messrs. Hatzis, Agapitos Hatzis, Ioannis and Simon, who were sent on this purpose.... Your homeland is listed among the Islands, which are definitively returned to the Ottoman State." Obviously, he does not consider it appropriate to deal with Symi.
Benedict does not cease to encourage them and write to Kapodistrias:
Our patriots
I have received your common letter, and I have taken care of all my powers, recommending it strongly to the Venerable Governor and to his brother, who have been sent by you as before, considering it my Duty. As we received answers, your efforts and expenses were not in vain.
They give us good hope, either of perfect freedom, or of the defense of the three powers and protectors of Greece, and do not despair. Have courage, act boldly in your affairs and in your answers to the tyrant, and do not be afraid. They are able to rein in his unbridled and inhumane. Only pray that the divine will grant them longevity and everything possible. These are the things that I abide in May XVI. (16.5.1830)
Of your nobility, the patriot Benedict is willing to follow the commands
The Symaeans send representatives again to explain them. They send a report and the Elders in response give them instructions, informing them about what is happening on the island. The situation with Sukiur Bey becomes very difficult, so he makes them agree.
We have received your pre-sent together with the enclosure of His Excellency. We saw in him that he had a concern for our defence. We have also seen the wise admonitions of the saint-philosophy as to how we should behave with the Socurbey of Rhodes. He is always busy attracting us to himself, sometimes threatening, sometimes peacefully modifying. But we, knowing Him to be evil in all things, and neither in His good nor in His evils, nor are we persuaded, but having our hands outstretched to God, we ask Him first to detach us from this bloodthirsty beast. Asking him and himself for the help promised by H.E., at the same time begging our patriot Mr. Benedict to take measures in our favor, which he knows and supervises, and at the same time the newly appeared defender for you, Mr. Prokopios, whom we beseech to remain in the same care and care, as having authority over all for the common benefit of our country and knowing us all dedicated to our help, For this reason there is no need for verbiage.
From his enclosed letters, you will also be sure of the plot that he has for us, having his tsaousades towards the east without letting anyone pass there for his little fodder. But whoever succeeds is stripped naked, beaten, as yesterday women came to us, insulted and expelled by tsaousas, who grabbed the little zeire they had gathered.
Yesterday, while the crowd was confused about the plot, three tsaousas arrived carrying 600 papers for 100 people. So they immediately ran down to the seashore and expelled them, because we have no way more against him to accept them, asking him for an account of our abusively stolen things from him1.
Therefore do not give a pass, but as soon as you help those who need your help, and you shall receive the reward from God Almighty, amen.
These things we remain so long, but we are fervent supplicants to God
On July 21, 1830 Symi
The inhabitants of the island of Symi are all patriots, young and old.
The situation worsens even more when Shukiur Bey learns of their movements. As soon as Benedict is informed of this, he writes to the Symians: Your courtesy, Mr. Hatzi, dear and other patriotic friends, I am delightfully torn apart.
I have received your letters sent to me at various times and by various means, in common and the same as the enclosed glorious and terrible bougiourdi.2 I was deeply saddened by what the tyrant causes you and still threatens evils, reading even to the holy archimandrite his all-holiness but he stands courageously forever saying let him do what he wants, so that your patriots do not appear to be subjects at all in order to have a defense. I admire his magnanimity, even though I hear that this and that island has been left out, may things be as he thinks.
However, in order not to rely on words alone, I went to Nafplio alone and announced and showed what had been sent, whether it was good and beforehand I sent the precautions to Mr. Michalis Kalafatis3, and both to him and to me the friends said that at present it is nothing more than for your patriots to make the reports to the vice-ambassadors of the three courts, whose names were noted and are sent with the drafts of the reports, as Mr. Michalis composed them excellently and most appropriately, which you will conduct with deliberate discourse to the Governor who is in fact the same author, an educated and virtuous man who is able to stand by the cause and word and deed and I hope to benefit you. This is what you are still doing, and perhaps God will give in to their hearts and they will defend you, either directly or indirectly, because of the desperation of the reports. Mr. Procopius also writes to you, consoling and encouraging you with indescribable zeal.
These things and I abide by your nobility. Aol 7/vrios II.(2.9.1830) All Pending Benedict Patriot.
Benedict's pressure on the Governor brought results and he agrees to help the Symaeans. Benedict announces this to them and advises them how to behave and what to say:
Your dear fellow citizens. Behold, the ambassador sent by you, Mr. Nikandros, returns and carries a letter of consolation. And by mouth he will tell you that they have told him, that is, what they do not trust in the scriptures, and listen and put into practice what has been heard. The said Mr. Nikandros performed his embassy with the utmost honors. After he met me, having received the necessary ingredients, he immediately set out for Nafplio, and through the blessed Golden Dawn, he presented himself to the Government and welcomed him favorably and was examined and received the necessary instructions, likewise at the behest of His Excellency and from the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Takers, and the one that bears an official letter, he finished his embassy in three or four days, while others sat for months and waited. And after he finished the common affairs, he took care of the same things with brevity and received permission to come to the church school that had been established to perfect his lessons. And the man, being a lover of his country, for the sake of the country, chose to come and tell you what he had heard and the letter with his own hands, because such letters should not be disclosed because of the circumstances of the time, and he overlooked what benefit he would have received between his arrival and his return. For these reasons, he despised both winter and dangers only to benefit the homeland at this critical moment. Therefore, you have a duty not only to listen to what is said and to execute the .... that ..... but also to greet him and send him to me in a hurry with the necessary letters. All 4 sealed papers are sent to you because the well-written ones have been judged and they have been translated. What he did not hear from each one, he will tell you in a live voice.
You are obliged to make an exposition from the moment you got up, how long you have endured the revolution, how many Turks you have killed, with whom you are obeyed, how many embassyes you have made from time to time to represent all the things of Mr. Kolettos, who wrote to you what you wrote about him, the things of the late Benjamin, what you gave due to tithes to Miaoulis and to anyone else, that you never worshipped but conducted under the dictation of Benjamin and the customs of the place and whatever else you have listened to with the Greek Administration at the time, to expose everything exactly and occasionally, because it is necessary for the Government to show it to the Forces, as you will learn from the same hierodeacon that he persistently asks him if there has been a police force of the Greek Administration for at least a month. Well, it must be shown with what relations you had with Koletis and with the Administration and with the rebellion and the lifting of arms that prevailed for so long, that you are of course under the Greek Administration, even though you are attributing decimatisms. And all these things with great care and order should be arranged and sent quickly with the one present, and we will not miss an opportunity to expose them as we hope to see him in them. But also expose your nobility by sealing it so that it may be shown. He said about the flag, and we conclude that he means nothing more than to raise a flag of freedom
1 So we see from what is said that the Ottomans did not have state responsibilities in Symi, but acted as an external power, which imposed its will. The Symians had every right to expel them, as they write.
2 Documents of the Bey of Rhodes.
3 Michael Kalafatas-Ioannidis, hieromonk named Nikandros, brother of Konstantinos Simonides' mother. Nikandros will study at the Seminary of Poros.
===============
and encouraging you with indescribable zeal.
These things and I abide by your nobility. Aol 7/vrios II.(2.9.1830) All Pending Benedict Patriot.
Benedict's pressure on the Governor brought results and he agrees to help the Symaeans. Benedict announces this to them and advises them how to behave and what to say:
Your dear fellow citizens. Behold, the ambassador sent by you, Mr. Nikandros, returns and carries a letter of consolation. And by mouth he will tell you that they have told him, that is, what they do not trust in the scriptures, and listen and put into practice what has been heard. The said Mr. Nikandros performed his embassy with the utmost honors. After he met me, having received the necessary ingredients, he immediately set out for Nafplio, and through the blessed Golden Dawn, he presented himself to the Government and welcomed him favorably and was examined and received the necessary instructions, likewise at the behest of His Excellency and from the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Takers, and the one that bears an official letter, he finished his embassy in three or four days, while others sat for months and waited. And after he finished the common affairs, he took care of the same things with brevity and received permission to come to the church school that had been established to perfect his lessons. And the man, being a lover of his country, for the sake of the country, chose to come and tell you what he had heard and the letter with his own hands, because such letters should not be disclosed because of the circumstances of the time, and he overlooked what benefit he would have received between his arrival and his return. For these reasons, he despised both winter and dangers only to benefit the homeland at this critical moment. Therefore, you have a duty not only to listen to what is said and to execute the .... that ..... but also to greet him and send him to me in a hurry with the necessary letters. All 4 sealed papers are sent to you because the well-written ones have been judged and they have been translated. What he did not hear from each one, he will tell you in a live voice.
You are obliged to make an exposition from the moment you got up, how long you have endured the revolution, how many Turks you have killed, with whom you are obeyed, how many embassyes you have made from time to time to represent all the things of Mr. Kolettos, who wrote to you what you wrote about him, the things of the late Benjamin, what you gave due to tithes to Miaoulis and to anyone else, that you never worshipped but conducted under the dictation of Benjamin and the customs of the place and whatever else you have listened to with the Greek Administration at the time, to expose everything exactly and occasionally, because it is necessary for the Government to show it to the Forces, as you will learn from the same hierodeacon that he persistently asks him if there has been a police force of the Greek Administration for at least a month. Well, it must be shown with what relations you had with Koletis and with the Administration and with the rebellion and the lifting of arms that prevailed for so long, that you are of course under the Greek Administration, even though you are attributing decimatisms. And all these things with great care and order should be arranged and sent quickly with the one present, and we will not miss an opportunity to expose them as we hope to see him in them. But also expose your nobility by sealing it so that it may be shown. He said about the flag, and we conclude that he means nothing more than to raise a flag of freedom, which is Jerusalem's, and do not be afraid to do so. You remained steadfast, magnanimous, the present time demands it. And on the contrary, if any Power comes and hastens you to submit to the Sultan, do not be completely deprived or afraid by resisting. Answer to one point: we are dead, but we do not submit once we have sworn, and we are not separated from the Greek plenum except by slaughter and death, and the like, as Mr. Prokopios, our most fervent supporter, writes to you in particular. And he who is present has heard and seen wants to show you the way in which you should behave in such times. It is a critical time, dear patriots, a time in which those who obeyed forever will be enslaved and become wretched man-legged people who desire death and will not be. And those who resist shall be claimed either for perfect liberty or for the subordination of someone by guarantee and defence, they shall be guaranteed with the security of the one that comes to pass. Take heed, therefore, that you who are indolent, that you have raised your paralyzed knees, that you have been awakened, because if by your negligence and by your death you have become the cause of the enslavement of the country, not only will you be on the gallows and eternal reproach, but you will also have a terrible word answered by the impartial judge for the many souls that have been enslaved because of you. Take care and not only you but also the adjacent islands as much as you can pick up and urge them to send a report and it will be in your good and interest. Your tyrant inevitably rises, only if you plan to receive your compensation until the minute. And you have made a report to the Venerable Governor, setting forth exactly the damages and evils that the tyrant has done to you from time to time, commonly and partially, you will include the accounts of both the public and the public with all the danes, and you will fervently beg him to send where he belongs. These are the things I have been living in Poros since October. (28.10.1830)
Your nobility is all willing to follow your commands, Patriot Benedict.
Finally, in November 1830, Kapodistrias, seeing that the Sporades were subject to a different regime1, agreed to help them to address the ambassadors of the Great Powers in Constantinople as an autonomous region and achieve what they were asking for:
"To the Residents of the Island of Symi. We received through the deliberate envoy of you, Mr. Michael Ioannidou, your report on the 10th of this day, and considering the report of the troubles surrounding your island, we promptly proceeded. We are hopeful that you will do a salvific work in your homeland, if you appoint as soon as possible those sent to your island, entrusting them to depart for Constantinople and retreat to the Most Excellency Ambassadors of the three Allied Courts, and to expose with a living voice your present and future calamities, requesting their healing and cessation through their powerful intercession, so that not only may you enjoy your already seized ships and the cargoes in them, through the protection of Your Excellency Admirals of the Allied Powers, but also that the abuses and oppressions which are already plaguing your country will cease from now on. In Nafplio on November 12, 1830, THE GOVERNOR, I.A. Kapodistrias".2
The people of Symi elected a committee to go to Constantinople, with letters of recommendation from Kapodistrias and the Vice-Ambassadors of the Great Powers in Nafplio, to speak with the Ambassadors there and the Patriarch: "The inhabitants of the Island of Symi elected from among us Messrs. Simon and Nikandros Ioannidis (and with them Mr. Diakos Gianneskis, an expert for a need for the accounts of the Commons between Rhodes) to submit ambassadors to the Constantinople, giving them the power of attorney, and if their expenses do not arrive, or if money is needed to demand our common cause, they shall therefore receive ..... present sealed. On December 15, 1830, Symi"23. The election was accompanied by a binding resolution, due to the disputes that existed on the island.
The mandate they had was: either union with Greece or independence with the regime before the revolution. The struggle was difficult, since the Great Powers had other plans for the islands. They had with them all the Sultan's firmans, the main one being Suleiman's Hatt-i Humayun (1549). It was optimistic and informative. They explained all the actions they had taken in Nafplio and what they would do in Constantinople.
After continuous consultations, in Constantinople3, they convinced the Ambassadors of the three Great Powers, as well as Patriarch Constantius I, that their homeland and the other southern Sporades had never been part of the Ottoman State, but that it was under a special status, based on the Treaty of Suleiman. As a result of the negotiations, the Great Powers temporarily accepted, A special regime for the islands, the regime was called the "Extraordinary Greek State of the Eastern Sporades". Besides, the Turkish-Greek border had not yet been definitively determined. They also managed to expel Shukur Bey from Rhodes, the bishop of Rhodes and the Abbot of Panormitis, who were the reasons for closing the School of Agia Marina while serving the Bey.
The Symians succeeded mainly because of Benedict, who had friendships in high echelons of Constantinople, but also because of the Symians, the Fotiades brothers, who were teachers of the consul of Russia and his children. Apart from the Nisyrians, no one else from the Dodecanese helped the Symians. In the second phase, the people of Kastelorizo and Chalkites helped. These efforts show the great contribution and patriotism of Benedict.
The Ecclesiastical School of Poros.
The Ecclesiastical School was the pride of Kapodistrias. That is why the way it operated and staffed was the subject of intense criticism on the part of the anti-Kapodistrian supporters. «... Their virtue (of the teachers) consisted only in long prayer and thorough abstinence, and in everything else that constitutes monastic and even Athonite hypocrisy, or the false glory according to the Gospel and the right word. But just as Kapodistrias did not pay complete attention to the common reputation and glory in the political ministries, as a despot, so in ecclesiastical matters. The said (teachers), and especially the latter, certainly did not have the common reputation in their favor, and there were others who were better than the said ones, if they were asked, and if the school was indeed an ecclesiastical store, from which a benefit was to be derived. Kapodistrias cared so much about the education of the Greek clergy"! (National Newspaper, op. cit., pp. 90-91).
The accusation is clearly formulated: "the cause of the unacceptable situation in the School is the authoritarian policy of Kapodistrias, which does not even take into account public opinion. The personal way of making decisions proved once again to be catastrophic, and in fact in a particularly important area, such as the Church." Kapodistrias, in the opinion of the columnist, preferred to sacrifice the common good in order to consolidate his power. With a non-meritocratic political perception, he also appointed the teachers of the ecclesiastical school, despite the obvious lack of the necessary qualifications on their part4.
In reality, Kapodistrias wants pure people around him, but the establishment wants people from his own circles. In the end, no one wants this School and it is clear from the document of the Governor of Poros dated 8.7.18325.
Prokopios Dendrinos writes a book that refers to the Holy Fire. What he writes is summarized in the following: "I prefer the 'atheists' who openly reject every case of miracle on the subject of the 'Holy Light' to the concealment of the truth for whatever reason." The book stirs up the officials of the church and they ask for "the head of Dendrinos on a platter". Kapodistrias is forced to, to cease Dendrinos' debts to the School and to force him to depart outside the country, with a document sent to Benedict. So he goes to Mount Athos6. Benedict lives alone in Poros, to manage the School.
At this time, the revolution of the people of Hydra and Mani against Kapodistrias was at its peak. On July 22, 1831, Miaoulis' forces had occupied the hinterland of the island of Poros as well as the fleet that was chartered on the island. The overwhelming majority of the inhabitants of Poros enthusiastically sided with Miaoulis, under the local chieftain Christodoulos Mexis. Government officials left the island. The fleets of England, France and Russia, forced the rebels to withdraw. Miaoulis did not accept and threatened to blow up the ships of the fleet if the army landed. The English admiral Ricord did not take the threat seriously and disembarked 150 men.
Miaoulis immediately blew up the magnificent two-decker "HELLAS" with 64 guns, the corvette "HYDRA", while he also lit the fuse on the steam-powered "KARTERIA", which was literally saved at the last moment thanks to the Mykonian sailor G. Galasidis. In August, in the beautiful city of Poros, which was left untouched by the Revolution, unheard-of looting took place by government soldiers who found an opportunity for looting, while rapes and beatings took place.
In this situation, the School of Poros, a creation of Kapodistrias, was in the sights of the opposition. Benedict could not withstand all these pressures. On September 4, 1831, he wrote a letter to Kapodistrias, shortly before his assassination (27.9.1831): "Because my superiors from Mount Athos also invite me to go to our Coenobium, and deliberately sent a man of a few days, I am forced to mention with regret to the A.E.E. my resignation from the Ecclesiastical School. However, in order that the Teacher's Shop would not remain deserted, I decided to stay this month as well, until the S.K. foresees that a teacher will be restored to it, so that he can undertake this divine work."7 So he leaves Poros.
The return to the Monastery of St. Panteleimon of the Russians
The two monks, Benedict and Dendrinos, have since remained in the Russian Monastery of St. Panteleimon on Mount Athos for the rest of their lives. Benedict also teaches at the Theological School of Halki, a co-teacher of Valtholomeos Koutloumousianos from Imbros (who became Schoolmaster, 1840 - 1846).8
Benedict was well acquainted with the art of manuscripts from the Classical abstention and taught it to Constantine Simonides. So we understand the origin of Constantine's admirable knowledge. Benedict, in addition to the styles, materials, style and procedures of each era, was also very well aware of the contents of the manuscripts. He was an excellent philologist and theologian, as evidenced by Constantine's knowledge, since he was his only real teacher.
One of Benedict's achievements is the "Codex of Sinai". The one that Tischendorf "discovered" thrown in the trash in the Sinai. Simonides, who was the scribe of the Codex, proved that it was the work of old Benedict. The Codex had been handed over by Simonides to Patriarch Constantius, who sent it to Sinai. From a correspondence of Oikonomou of Oikonomou we see that Constantius I, who served as Abbot of Sinai, an excellent connoisseur of palaeography, would not have thrown away a Codex of such value. The monks, however, paid no attention to him. It was found by Tischendorf and is now in the British Museum.
He wrote the unpublished Gospel of Easter published by M. Gideon (Anatolikos Astir of Constantinople X 114-15). He also wrote the service to Axion Estin (1854) and the service to all Saints Anargyroi, which was approved by Gregory V, and praises and services to various Saints (anecdotes).9
Benedict died on 28.5.1840 and Archimandrite Prokopios Dendrinos from Ithaca died on 14.8.1848. In the last period of their lives, they both devoted themselves to studies and writings of ecclesiastical works, in collaboration with Oikonomou of Oikonomou, the Patriarchs Constantius I and Anthimos IV, as well as with the brothers, Alexandros Sturtzas and Countess Edling (Roxane Sturdza). The two Sturtzas brothers were closely related to Ioannis Kapodistrias. Benedict and Dendrinos also knew very well Zacharias Sakharov, Russia's consul in Constantinople, and many other scholars of their time. His relatives were also the Fotiadis brothers from Symi, for many years teachers in schools and private ones in the homes of personalities in Constantinople31.
1 The Southern Sporades, led by Symi, had managed to be included by Suleiman the Magnificent in a special regime in 1549. They paid tribute but were completely autonomous.
2 G.A.K Archives 23 G.A.K. Archives
3 The minutes of these consultations are recorded by Panagiotis Skiathitis in his unpublished book, "THE HISTORY OF SYMI". A book that needs to be published. From this book, the history of this place becomes more comprehensible.
4 Annita Prassa, op. cit., p.278, 294-295.
5 G.S.A. archive 096.
6 June – July 1831, G.A.K. 242
7 G.A.K. Archive
8 Tryfonos Evangelidou "Education under the Ottoman Rule" Volume A p. 49
9 Tryfonos Evangelidou "Education under the Ottoman Rule" Volume B. (School of Symi) 31Tryfonos Evangelidou "Education under the Ottoman Rule" Volume A. Schools of Constantinople.
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Steven Avery
Administrator
Nikolos is warmer to Benedict on Sinaiticus
Amazing
———
3 Michael Kalafatas-Ioannidis, hieromonk named Nikandros, brother of Konstantinos Simonides' mother. Nikandros will study at the Seminary of Poros.
Nicander
=========
Athens per Lycourgas
Date-age problem
show 1832bpub
mcgrane should correct
he wrote as Abbot
he knew Capodistrias well - per 1832
imaginary
Benedict was well acquainted with the art of manuscripts from the Classical abstention and taught it to Constantine Simonides. So we understand the origin of Constantine's admirable knowledge. Benedict, in addition to the styles, materials, style and procedures of each era, was also very well aware of the contents of the manuscripts. He was an excellent philologist and theologian, as evidenced by Constantine's knowledge, since he was his only real teacher.
One of Benedict's achievements is the "Codex of Sinai". The one that Tischendorf "discovered" thrown in the trash in the Sinai. Simonides, who was the scribe of the Codex, proved that it was the work of old Benedict. The Codex had been handed over by Simonides to Patriarch Constantius, who sent it to Sinai. From a correspondence of Oikonomou of Oikonomou we see that Constantius I, who served as Abbot of Sinai, an excellent connoisseur of palaeography, would not have thrown away a Codex of such value. The monks, however, paid no attention to him. It was found by Tischendorf and is now in the British Museum.
Amazing
———
3 Michael Kalafatas-Ioannidis, hieromonk named Nikandros, brother of Konstantinos Simonides' mother. Nikandros will study at the Seminary of Poros.
Nicander
=========
Athens per Lycourgas
Date-age problem
show 1832bpub
mcgrane should correct
he wrote as Abbot
he knew Capodistrias well - per 1832
imaginary
Benedict was well acquainted with the art of manuscripts from the Classical abstention and taught it to Constantine Simonides. So we understand the origin of Constantine's admirable knowledge. Benedict, in addition to the styles, materials, style and procedures of each era, was also very well aware of the contents of the manuscripts. He was an excellent philologist and theologian, as evidenced by Constantine's knowledge, since he was his only real teacher.
One of Benedict's achievements is the "Codex of Sinai". The one that Tischendorf "discovered" thrown in the trash in the Sinai. Simonides, who was the scribe of the Codex, proved that it was the work of old Benedict. The Codex had been handed over by Simonides to Patriarch Constantius, who sent it to Sinai. From a correspondence of Oikonomou of Oikonomou we see that Constantius I, who served as Abbot of Sinai, an excellent connoisseur of palaeography, would not have thrown away a Codex of such value. The monks, however, paid no attention to him. It was found by Tischendorf and is now in the British Museum.
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