Greeks in America - eBooks4Greeks.gr

EUROPEAN BACKGROUND 59of Athens, while on a visit to the United States in1918, at the dinner given in his honor by the ClergyClub of New York, said, ^^What was best in the oldGreek mysteries and theater was assimilated andretained by the Greek Church."Greek Puritans.—Thus under various influencessuch elements and practices entered the church thata section in^he seventh century objected and remonstrated.We might say the Puritans in the GreekChurch started the fight against ritualism and ceremonialismas well as the icons and such practicesas the mediation of the saints and worship of VirginMary and angels. These were doubtless the forerunnersof the Reformation in the 16th century as ProfessorPaparregopoulas of Athens University explainedin his History of Greece.Their later influence.—Under the influence ofwomen and monks, the reform movement waschecked and the Greeks were prevented from doingwhat was later accomplished by the Reformation.It did not, however, die out entirely, as its tracescontinued among the Catharists in Armenia, theBogomeles, in Bulgaria, and its doctrines and influenceswere carried through merchants to France,which resulted in the movement of the Albigenses.In spite of the suppression of the Reform Party,Constantinople continued to be the seat of learning,and Greek literature, philosophy and theology wereexpounded there throughout the medieval perioduntil the fall of Constantinople (1453). Though nogreat men of the rank of the ancient writers, philosophersor theologians appeared during this period,still there were prominent men able to teach andexpound all the Greek authors. Upon the fall ofConstantinople, the leading, learned Greeks escapedto Europe and carried the knowledge of the Greekart and language, thus starting the Renaissance.Turkish conquests.—^When the Reformation be-