Din însemnările lui Dosithei Notara despre călătoria sa şi a patriarhului Paisie al Ierusalimului în jurul Mării Negre
EXCERPTS FROM DOSITHEI NOTARA'S NOTES ON HIS AND PATRIARCH PAÏSIOS OF JERUSALEM'S TRAVEL AROUND THE BLACK SEA

Summary/Abstract: The purpose of this article is to present the journey around the Black Sea, performed by two famous ecclesiastic persons of the XVII th century: Dositheos Notara and Paisie, the patriarch of Jerusalem. The fragment containing the travel notes is included in a monumental work, named The History of the Patriarchs of Jerusalem, written by Dositheos, in the Greek language and printed later in Bucharest by Hrisant Notara, the successor of Dositheos at the Apostolic Throne. The travel we are referring at was accomplished between 1657-1660, around the coast of the Black Sea and even in the Caucasus region. Its aim was not only to collect some money for the needs of the patriarchate s throne, but also to visit some renowned orthodox places and monasteries and to meet different personalities. Subsequently, the protagonists made a voyage on the Black Sea and disembarked in Mingrelia, at Kurs port. They visited some important places nearby, such as the Mokfe Monastery and the residential town Zugdetion. Later, they went to Imeretia, close to Mingrelia, and visited Kutaisi town and two famous monasteries, Kelate and Chope, and the author gave a detailed account of them. Then, they went in Guria region from where they navigated to Trapezunt. In that town, they had the opportunity to visit and also to officiate the divine service in the Metropolitan Church, St. Filip. They also visited Sumela Monastery. The following routes included Batumi, Sinope and some other ancient towns along the sea shore. They also arrived in Crimeea and Chilia port. The importance of the travel notes derives, one the one hand, from the mention of the places, towns, churches or rivers which they have seen and, on the other hand, from the detailed description of them. So, we can form an idea of the geography, history and culture of these regions. It is important to underline that the author bases his arguments not only on historical evidences, but on his own experience as well.

• Details
• Contents