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chrysanthos notaras the Patriarch of Jerusalem... 399
the same period, while father lequien advocated the return to the Christian
antiquity, a number of Dominicans were engaged in controversy with the
philosophers and encyclopedists. Father lequien was also a correspondent
of the prince nikolaou Mavrokordatos, protector and friend of notaras.
We find Chrysanthos again in paris in 1706, accompanied by a member
of the Cantacuzene family, in a context in which he bought at least one
book for prince Brancoveanu’s library. 16
Chrysanthos notaras’ obvious interest toward the Western intellectual
values and his personal contacts with exponents of the Catholic Church
did not influence his outright orthodoxy. later, we find him following
uncompromised on his uncle footsteps, engaged against the offensive of
catholic and protestant proselytism in the east, relentlessly defending the
interests of the Greek orthodox tradition.
In order to understand better Chrysanthos notaras’ actions and attitudes,
it is very important to note that, however the inherent influence on his inner
system of values of his studies in padua and visit to paris, long before that
he was thoroughly structured mentally by a strong theological knowledge
and a well-fashioned system of general values. his basic formation within
the frame of the eastern Church establishment sat firmly on the classical
hellenistic science and philosophy acquired at the Constantinopolitan
Academy. In this respect, it is little wonder then that notaras’ later scientific
writing reflects a peculiarity that combines the modern approach of the
new european scientific thought with the ptolemaic vision of the world –
the only one accepted by the eastern Church, whom he represented as a
member of its high hierarchy.
In the same respect, it is worth noting the customary duty of the returning
scholar back in the orthodox realm to deliver a speech acknowledging his
creed, in front of a knowledgeable audience. the reason of that is to reassure
the orthodox community of the steadiness on the traditional orthodox path.
prior to this act of faith, the scholar had to submit to a thorough examination
aimed to detect the degree of conformity with the orthodox teachings. this
whole process was considered necessary because many students, despite
their previous conformity with the orthodox Creed, returned home from
Western universities with various degrees of shifting from the old tradition,
influenced by “heretic” Catholic or protestant teachings. After finishing
his studies in the West, on his way back to Greece, Chrysanthos notaras
submitted too to this practice and delivered the customary returning
speech in Bucharest, after being enthusiastically welcomed and led to the
Metropolitan Church: “on his way back to Greece, he traversed Bucharest
16 n. IorGA 1971: 46.