George Scholarius

(c. 1400–c. 1468)

   Patriarch.

   George was a teacher of philosophy in Constantinople who spoke in favour of reunion with the Church of Rome at the Council of Florence in 1439. By c. 1450, however, he had become a leader of the anti-union party. He entered a monastery and, after the capture of Constantinople by the Muslims, he was appointed Patriarch under the name of Gennadius II. With Sultan Mohammed II, a concordat between the Orthodox Church and the Muslim secular power was established and this remained in force until 1923. He soon resigned his charge, however, and returned to his monastery. He was a prolific author and his works include translations of the writings of St thomas aquinas into Greek and a Confession, which was a dialogue with the Sultan, defending the Christian position.

   J. Gill, Personalities of the Council of Florence and Other Essays (1964).