Zosimas

Zosimas brothers (Greek: Ζωσιμαδες). Greek benefactors and philanthropists.

They were known as Zosimades (Greek:Ζωσιμαδες). They were the nine children of Panagiotis Zosimas and Margarita Tsoukals, all born in Ioannina, Epirus sometime between 1750 and 1766. Ioannis was the first son, and Michael the youngest, the others Theodosios, Anastasios, Zois and Nikolaos were in between. The three sisters were Alexandra, Zoitsa and Angeliki.

At a young age, they realized that there were limited business opportunities in Epirus and migrated. Three settled in Livorno, Italy, and the other three settled in Nizva, Russia. Subsequently they transferred the head office of the business in Moscow.

While the brothers were overseas, their house in Ioannina where the sisters lived.

In 1786, Ioannis died in Nizva. Russia, and the brothers constructed the church of Agios Ioannis in Nizva.

However, when Theodoros died in 1793, the brothers decided no to marry, in order to maximize their contribute more towards Greece and Greek projects. In the following years, the brothers supported financially the publication of Greek literature and in 1796 they contributed towards the publication of the books of Adamantios Korais. Without the "Zosimas brothers" Korais would have never succeeded.

Anastasios died 1805, followed by Michael in 1809.

In 1827, Zois died Moscow and Nikolaos was the only brother alive. In 1828, on behalf of the 'Zosimas Brothers', he supported financial the construction of the Zosimaia School in Ioannina. The school was ready by 1833(?).

Nikolaos died February 24th in Nizva.

Before he died, he donated money to the Ioannina Hospital, and his huge coin collection of over 12,157 antique Greek and Roman coins to the Greek Nation. He also donated books, money for those in need, etc.

Nikolaos Zosimas was also one of the founders and original shareholders of the National Bank of Greece.

References

Grammeno: Caplanis, Zagoris, Rizaris Metsovo: Stournari, Averoff, Tositsa. Lachovo: Arsaki, Lampovo, Zappa Ioannina: Zosimas