Chrysolo'ras, Deme'trius
（
Δεμήτριος ὁ ὁ Χρυσόλωρας), a native of Thessalonica, was a Greek priest renowned as a theologian, philosopher, astronomer, and statesman. His uncommon talents procured him an introduction to John Cantacuzenus, formerly emperor (John VI.) and from 1355 a monk. Cantacuzenus recommended him to the emperor Manuel II. (1391-1425),bywhom he was employed in various important offices. Manuel sent him on several occasions as ambassador to foreign courts. One hundred letters which Chrysoloras wrote to that emperor are extant in MS. in the Bodleian, and in the Royal Library at Paris. Besides these letters, Chrysoloras wrote several treatises on religious subjects, entitled
Διάλογοι, such as " Dialogus adversus Demetrium Cydonium, pro Nicolao Cabasila de Processione Spiritus Sancti;" " Dialogus contra Latinos;" " Encomium in S. Demetrium Martyrem ;" "Tractatus ex Libris Nili contra Latinos de Processione Spiritus Sancti;" "' Epistola ad Barlaamum de Processione Spiritus Sancti," extant in a Latin translation, probably made by the same Barlaam with his own refutation, in the Bibliotheca Patrum Coloniensis ;" Homiliæ de Transfiguratione Christi ;"" De Sepultura ;" " De Resurrectione ;" " De Annunciatione," &c., extant in MS. in different libraries in England and on the continent. " Disputatio coram Manuele Imperatore inter Demetrium Chrysoloram et Antonium Asculanum de Christi Verbis, Melius ei (Judae) esset si natus non fuisset," Ex version Georgii Trombae, Florence, 1618; it seems that the Greek text of this work is lost. (Fabric.
Bibl. Graec. xi. p. 411, &c.; Cave,
Hist. Lit. vol. ii. p. 520.)
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W.P]
