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398 VIcTOR GODEAnU
the university of padua was most attractive to foreign students,
especially Greeks and eastern europeans. Founded in 1222, the university
was the second most ancient in Italy, after Bologna. It had a huge academic
prestige all over europe and possessed a very substantial library. the
presence of an astronomical observatory here is not however historically
sustainable 11 , since the university seemingly did not possess such a utility
until 1761, that is thirty years after the death of Chrysanthos. 12 Founded
by the cardinal Gregorio Barbarigo in the mid-17 century, the Seminary
of padua was renowned for its comprehensive humanistic orientation – the
curriculum of the Seminary embracing Aristotle, porphyries, mathematics,
euclid and geometry of the sphere – and its opening toward the Greek
tradition of the holy Fathers. Cardinal Barbarigo wanted the Seminary to
be a place of meeting and study for the researchers of all languages and
confessions. In fact, the secret expectation of the founder of the padua
Seminary was a mutual approach between the two Christian churches
thorough the rediscovery of the common patristic tradition. 13
In May 1697, at the time of his arrival in padua, Chrysanthos was
already ordained archimandrite of the holy Sepulcher, according to the
record of his welcoming. here, Chrysanthos attends the courses of the
Seminary in order to accomplish his intellectual training.
After three years in padua, finishing his academic stage in April 1700,
Chrysanthos notaras went to paris where he met the famous French/Italian
astronomer Jean Cassini 14 , from whom he learned the latest in astronomical
science. In notaras’ own words, Cassini showed him a great friendship,
and hosted him at the paris observatory. In addition, he granted his clerical
guest the privilege of using the grand telescope for watching the skies.
Chrysanthos stayed in paris for only a week, and made acquaintance
with the Dominican father Michel lequien (1661–1733), whom later will
remember his vast knowledge in science, his humanity and character. this
empathy between the Greek archimandrite and the Dominican father is
not of wonder given lequien’s great interest in the Greek Fathers of the
Church, especially for St. John Damascene, of whom he must have been
talking with Chrysanthos in preparation of his great work. 15 Moreover, in
11 G. AuJAC 2002: 166.
12 the only telescope documented in padua before 1761 belonged to Galileo, who
left the university in 1610, eighty-seven years before Chrysanthos notaras’ arrival.
13 G, AuJAC 2002: 168.
14 Born as Gian Domenico Cassini, he held from 1671, at the invitation of King
louis xIV, the position of director of the newly founded (1667) paris observatory.
15 Father Michel lequien published in paris, in 1717, the first and the best complete
edition of Damascene’s work, reprinted in Venice in 1748, after his death.