Ioane Petritsi

 

Ioane Petritsi (XI-XII), Philosopher of Neo-Platonic orientation. History offers scanty data of his life. The 18th century chroniclers tell us that Ioane Petritsi was born in Samtskhe (South Georgia), in the family of Georgian noblemen. As a young man he studied at the Mangan Academy in Constantinople. His tutors were Michael Phsellos and John Italus, prominent figures of Byzantine renaissance. Since Jhohn Italus was tried at court in 1083, and his followers were persecuted, Ioane Petritsi was pressed to leave Byzantibe Empire, move to the Petritsoni Monastery and dwell there. He spent some time at Black Mountain along with Ephrem Mtsire. Later he went back to Georgia to become the Principal of Gelati Academy. His legacy of philosophic works includes translated pieces as well as original compositions. He has translated the works by Aristotle, Nemesius of Emesa, Proclus and others. The literary school that was founded by him had many followers. Ioane Petritsi greatly influenced ancient Georgian philosophic thought, secular poetry and historiography