Theophilos Kairis: the martyr of the Enlightenment

(from the book "The Epitome of Theosophical Teaching and Ethics" on the Greek Enlightenment)

The director of the Lux Orbis Series, Minas Papageorgiou, writes about the book "section" regarding the Greek Enlightenment.

On April 7, 1842. The ambassador of the free Greek state in Constantinople, Alexandros Mavrokordatos, informs the government about the arrival at the port of the city of the steamship "Evanthia". The news has special significance because of one passenger on the ship, who cannot go unnoticed.

"Evanthia" brings Theofilos Kairis to its premises. An exiled scholar with a huge contribution to the homeland, both during the pre-revolutionary and post-revolutionary years. Three years earlier, the trial and persecution of the philosopher took place in Athens. The decision to confine him to a monastery in Skiathos (for one year) and immediately after his two-year seclusion in Thira.

Theosoveia, the worldview model that Kairis had introduced into his teaching, had provoked the wrath of the Patriarchate. But also of the Hellenic Church, which in 1841 had sent to all the parishes his removal from the priesthood.

Unrest in the City

The arrival of Cairo in the port of Constantinople causes obvious embarrassment to Mavrokordatus. He decides to tell the philosopher "to stay on the ship he is in". This embarrassment of Mavrokordatus grows even more when the news of the surveillance of the annoying temporary passenger of the "Evanthia" begins to quickly reach the city.

Eight days after his first report, the Greek diplomat informs his superiors. Former students and admirers of Cairo meanwhile gathered on the ship's deck, eager to converse with the philosopher. In the same document, the deepest concern of the Patriarchate for the development of the case, with the patriarch himself planning to address even the High Gate itself(!) with the ultimate goal of expelling Cairo from Constantinople.

The departure of the latter took place from the City on April 15, heading for London this time. He completed yet another indicative phase of the sufferings faced by the "forbidden" philosopher.

The profile of the Enlightener

Eleven years later, in January 1853, Theophilos Kairis left the world. It was an emblematic form of the first half of the 19th century, which actually lived through it all!

He participated in the pre-revolutionary struggles for the enlightenment of Greek children. He taught in various schools and studied in the West. It is noteworthy that he supplied the School of Quinces with instruments of astronomy, physics, chemistry and geography that were pioneering for the time. In the same city, in fact, he founded a printing house in 1818. Throughout his life, he came into contact with brilliant personalities of the era of the New Greek Enlightenment. More important than these are Adamantios Korais, Benjamin Lesvios, Neophytos Vambas and Anthimos Gazis.

He took part in the Revolution of 1821 – and more specifically in the Olympus campaign, from where he "inherited" three wounds. In the following years he actively participated in the first National Assemblies, while after the revolution he founded his famous Orphanage in Andros. Towards the end of his life, he was relentlessly persecuted for his philosophical and religious ideas. Considered a heretic, nevertheless maintaining his attitude towards his beliefs intact.

Undoubtedly, he was a controversial personality. He attempted, through the monotheistic Christian concept and at the same time ancient Greek influences of the theosophical worldview system, to religiousize the Ortho Logos. This makes him historically a special case of a scholar, on the fringes of the Enlightenment camp. Many of the positions and opinions he formed were influenced by his orthodox priestly status. Despite the fact that along the way he was deposed and excommunicated.

The book that promotes the Greek Enlightenment

The book is the last written work of Kairis, published in 1851 in London. It is a last attempt by the originator of Theosobia to make clear the content of his worldview for the reading public.

172 years after its first release, the Epitome is available again. This time from a domestic publishing house, printed in a Greek printing house and under much more favorable conditions. If nothing else, a time-honored vindication for Theofilos Kairis. Despite his incredible hardships and torture, he remained standing until the end. Unique, almost a defender of his beliefs, defending his ideas and vision.

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