Isidorus, Fulbert, Cerbanus

Pannonhalma abbey
Chartres - Cathedral
Cerbanus
Isidorus

He was the bishop of Sevilla in Spain between 570 and 636, who tried to summarise the complete knowledge of his age in a book entitled Etymologiae or Origines. He also wanted to transfer early Christian knowledge to his contemporaries in an encyclopedia. Through this work, which could be found in the library of the Pannonhalma monastery, too, he became the greatest teacher of the Middle Ages. In his unfinished book, which was divided into 20 books by his friend, he discussed the septem artes liberales, that is medicine, law, chronology, theology, philosophy, sociology, biology, physics, geography, architecture, mineralogy, agriculture, artillery, theatre, clothing ...etc.in the form of definitions. Besides his scientific works he compiled the history of the western Goths till 620 (Chronica). Several theological works by him also survived.

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Fulbert

He originated from middle-Italy and lived from 960 to 1028. He might have been the student of Gerbert d'Orillac (later Pope Sylvester II) in Reims; in 1006 he became bishop of Chartre, and the most famous teacher of the chapter school there, which was based on classical traditions. He was the best-known theologian of his age, whose main aim was to harmonise Christian and neoplatonic ideas. From the point of view of literature we must mention his poems, sermons, tractas and letters. The 12th century Gerald legend quotes from his works as well. He rebuilt the Roman cathedral of Chartres, which was destroyed by fire.

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Cerbanus

A Venetian monk, who visited Hungary in the middle of the 12th century, and who spent a long time in the Byzantine court as a minister. During his stay in Hungary he found Maximos Homologetes's and John Damaskus's works on moral philosophy and dogmatics in the monastery of Pásztó, and he translated some parts from Greek to Latin. He was the first to translate the parts of these books to Latin, and later translators and readers of these books used his translation, so the western encounter of the two Greek theologian took place in Hungary. The translations were widespread, several codices preserved their texts. Because of this Hungary became an area of cultural importance, similar to the translating schools of Sycily and the Spanish Toledo, though to a smaller degree. He offered his translations to David, the Abbot of Pannonhalma, and in his letter of recommendation, he praised the riches of the library and the knowledge of the monks of the Pannonhalma monastery. The translations suggest that the author had a good stylistic sense and thorough philosophical knowledge.

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