Philosopher, Teacher of the Greek Nation, Scientist, Hero of the Greek War of Independence (1758 – 1828)
Anthimos Gazis was an intellectual, high rank member of the Philiki Hetaereia (Society of Friends) and one of the key representatives of the Enlightenment in Greece. Born to a poor family, Gazis worked as a teacher and studied theology until he moved to Constantinople where he became archimandrite.
In 1797 he was sent to a Greek community in Vienna. There, he began indulging on philosophy, mathematics and natural sciences. His spiritual development marked the beginning of his life-long struggle to awake the Greeks and to stimulate the Europeans. He started publishing works of the Ancient Greeks in a form that was understandable to the people and translated them to foreign languages. His most notable works were Geographic Map of Greece with old and new names, Geographic Map of Europe in Greek, Syntagmatium Chronologicum, Hellenic Library and Greek Lexicon, one of the most valuable books during the Enlightenment. In 1811 he published the magazine Hermes o Logios, the first Greek magazine in Vienna and the most read Greek magazine of the diaspora. Gazis was amongst those who believed that the Greek nation could not rise against the conqueror if it was not educated.
Gazis returned to Greece where he was initiated in the Society of Friends. He travelled throughout Greece to disseminate the message of the coming of the war of Independence and initiate as many heroes as he could to the society. Anthimos acted as the intermediate between the government and the freedom fighters of Pylion. He played a pivotal role during the uprising in Pylion but the operation was discontinued because of the Turkish forces. Nevertheless, its importance in inspiring the subjugated Greeks was acknowledged. When in 1823 Gazis’ revolutionary movement failed again he retired to Skyros, where he got involved with the organizing of Greek schools.
After his country gained its independence he served as a member of the Supreme Court. He died in Syros in 1828 in poverty but in bliss as he had lived to see his country’s freedom. His funeral was attended by hundreds of people, lamenting for the loss a passionate patriot and a wise humanist who dedicated his life to the spiritual growth of the Greeks.
Bibliography
- “Gazes, Anthimos”. Helios New Encyclopaedic Dictionary. Passas, I. Athens, 1946. Print.
- Philistor, John. Σύντομος Βιογραφία του Άνθιμου Γαζή. Istorikathemata.com. August 1, 2016. web.