Georgios Sougdouris

Who was Georgios Sougdouris?

Georgios Sougdouris was a Greek philosopher and theologian.

Sougdouris was born in Ioannina, northwestern Greece, where he finished ground level studies. He continued his studies in Venice and Padua. In 1681 Sougdouris became a priest and two years later the head of the Goumas school in Ioannina, succeeding Bessarion Makris. Sougdouris taught there natural science, mathematics and aristotelian philosophy. Sougdouris taught at the Goumas school until 1710 and was succeeded by Methodios Anthrakites. He wrote a number of philological, theological and philosophical works like Εισαγωγή Λογική, published in Vienna, 1792 and Επιτομή Γραμματικής, both were extensively used as school textbooks. Moreover, he translated to Greek the work of Francesco Panigarola Rhetorica Ecclesiastica.

Sougdouris got involved in various theological discussions with local scholars. Due to his progressive views and teaching methods, got into conflict with conservatives cycles and was accused for atheism. As a result the local Orthodox bishop asked for Sougdouris' excommunication but failed.