Evgenios Voulgaris

Evgenios Voulgaris was a Greek scholar and "Teacher of the Nation" (Greek: Γενναρχης).

Voulgaris was born on August 11, 1716 in Corfu. He commenced his studies in Corfu and continued in Arta and Ioannina. Later, he moved to Padova, Italy to further his studies. His interests were ranging from ancient Greek, Latin and Hebrew Philology to Theology, Physics, Mathematics and Languages.

In 1742, he returned to Greece and taught in various schools in Northern Greece. He became famous but not very popular in many circles because of his "free thinking" ideas.

In 1762, disappointed, left Greece and migrated to Wallachia and from there to Lipsia, where he was mainly pre-occupied with publishing his work

In the following years, there were a few quick changes in his life. He visited Berlin, then St. Petersburg where he was appointed by Ekaterina II "The Great" in 1772, Chief Librarian. In 1776, he became Archbishop of Slovinio and Chersona. He remained Archbishop until 1779.

In 1779, he return to St. Petersburg, and became a member of the Imperial Academy.

In 1802, he withdrew to the monastery of St Alexander Nevski where he died on June 19, 1806.

During the years he spend in Russia, his views became softer.

Voulgaris left behind many writings on history and religion, philosophy and physics, mathematics and astronomy, archeology and music. He also translated Virgil's Aeneid into Greek.