Nektarios Terpos

Nektarios Terpos (Greek: Νεκτάριος Τέρπος; late 17th-18th century) was an Orthodox Christian scholar and monk from Moscopole (today in modern Albania and author of an important religious book, called A Handbook called Faith (Greek: Βιβλιάριο καλούμενον Πίστις), which was first published in 1732. Terpos, together with Cosmas of Aetolia, was one of the major contributors of religious and cultural revival under the Ottoman rule.[1]

Life

Terpos came from a wealthy family and spend his childhood in Moscopole. As a missionary he travelled in Epirus, covering vast areas from Arta to Berat.[2] Terpos will also be remembered for his work in the Ardenica Monastery where in 1731 he wrote a prayer in the form of a fresco. The prayer is in four languages (Aromanian, Greek, Albanian, and Latin) and is the first writing in Albanian found in an Eastern Orthodox Church.[3]

Persecuted, Terpo migrated to Italy, where in 1732 he published his main work named A Handbook called Faith (Greek: Βιβλιάριο καλούμενον Πίστις).[4] The book was republished 12 times in less than a century (1732–1818).[2] In the book Terpo chastises the Crypto-Christians of Albania, and invites them to never abandon the religion of their forefathers.[5]

References
  1. Peter A. Chamberas, George S. Bebis. Nicodemos of the Holy Mountain: a handbook of spiritual counsel. Paulist Press, 1989. ISBN 978-0-8091-3038-2, p. 18.
  2. M. V. Sakellariou. Epirus, 4000 years of Greek history and civilization. Ekdotikē Athēnōn, 1997. ISBN 978-960-213-371-2, p. 316.
  4. Anastas Janullatos (2013). Kisha e Shqipërisë, nga vitet apostolike deri sot - nga Kryepiskopi Anastas. Kisha Orthodhokse Autoqefale e Shqipërisë. Archived from the original on 9 June 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  5. Flora Koka (2003). 2000 vjet art dhe kulturë kishtare në Shqipëri: aktet e simpoziumit ndërkombëtar, Tiranë, 16-18 nëntor 2000. Kisha Orthodhokse Autoqefale e Shqipërisë.
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