Khratakank ev Gogeshahk Qarozk (Bedros of Aragon, Bartholomew of Bologna; 1704)
Name/Title
Khratakank ev Gogeshahk Qarozk (Bedros of Aragon, Bartholomew of Bologna; 1704)Description
Original Armenian: Խրատականք եւ հոգեշահք քարոզք. Rough translation: Exhortation and soul-winning sermon. The publication was sponsored by Murat Sherimanian. The Armenian catholic Sherimanian (Sceriman) family is estimated to have been one of the richest families in Europe in the first half of the eighteenth century. As early as 1613, the Scerimans owned a house in Venice for family and agent use. By the 1650s, Sarhat, who was the patriarch of the family, had sons that expanded the family's holdings in Italy. In the 1690s, Nazar and Shahriman, sons of Murat, the sponsor of this publication, invested about 720,000 ducats in Venetian banks, opening interest-bearing accounts and lending substantial sums to the Venetian Republic for its wars against the Ottoman Empire. These investments later yielded significant profits, reflecting a cultural focus on Italian city-states. The book centers on the teachings of Peter of Aragon (sometimes Petrus de Aragonia) and Bartholomew of Bologna. Peter of Aragon (died 1347) was a medieval Armenian philosopher, theologian, and Dominican preacher. He contributed to Armenia's cultural and intellectual movements during the Middle Ages. Notably, he authored commentaries on Thomas Aquinas's works, including "In secundam secundae Divi Thomae Doctoris Angelici Commentaria de iustitia et iure," published in 1596. In 1318, Pope John XXII sent Peter, along with Bartholomew of Bologna and John of Angoulême, to the East to promote Catholicism among Armenians. They initially settled in the newly established Dominican monastery in Maragha, engaging in scholarly and teaching activities. By 1330, at the invitation of Hovhannes of Crimea, Petrus moved to the monastery in Crimea, where he learned Armenian and continued his scholarly and preaching work until his death. Peter of Aragon's contributions significantly influenced Armenian philosophical thought, particularly impacting figures like Hovhannes Vorotnetsi and Grigor Tatevatsi. His works facilitated cultural and scholarly exchanges between Armenia and medieval Europe. However, his missionary activities also intensified doctrinal disputes, challenging the unity of the Armenian Church.Category
Books