Cosmas the Priest (Bulgarian : Презвитер Козма, Prezviter Kozma), also known as Cosmas the Presbyter or Presbyter Cosmas, was a medieval Bulgarian priest and writer. Cosmas is most famous for his anti-Bogomil treatise Sermon Against the Heretics, which, despite not being conclusively dated, is generally ascribed to the 10th century. The treatise is a valuable source on the beginnings of the Bogomil heresy in Bulgaria, as well as on medieval Bulgarian society.
The little that is known about Cosmas can be extracted from the few words that he writes about himself in Sermon Against the Heretics. As was customary to medieval priests and writers, Cosmas refers to himself as "unworthy". However, he was certainly of no low rank, as in his treatise he widely criticised the high clergy of the Bulgarian Patriarchate. [1] Bulgarian historian Plamen Pavlov theorises Cosmas must have been a high-ranking member of the ecclesiastical hierarchy and would have written his treatise under direct orders from the Bulgarian emperor. There is no data as to where in Bulgaria Cosmas was based: suppositions range from the capital Preslav [2] and eastern Bulgaria in general, to Ohrid and the region of Macedonia, and even Veliko Tarnovo. [3] Though Cosmas is not known to have been canonised, he is commonly referred to as "blessed" or a "saint" in the copies of his treatise. [4]
The dating of Cosmas' activity and thus the writing of Sermon Against the Heretics is an extremely problematic issue. The general consensus among scholars is that Cosmas lived in the middle or the second half of the 10th century. [2] [3] [5] However, individual scholarly opinions associate Cosmas' life with the first half of the 11th century and even the early 13th century. [3] While Cosmas never mentions the date of writing of his treatise, he does leave some chronological details. Cosmas calls the Bogomil heresy "newly-appeared" [3] and refers to the apparently popular "John, the new presbyter and exarch", whom most scholars identify with early-10th-century Bulgarian writer John Exarch. Cosmas insists that the heresy spread during the reign of Tsar Peter I (r. 927–969), yet according to historian Dimitri Obolensky he also claims Peter's rule was already over by the time of writing. [5]
Cosmas the Priest's only known work, Sermon Against the Heretics, bears the full title Homily of the Unworthy Presbyter Cosmas Against the Newly-Appeared Bogomil Heresy or, in other manuscripts, Sermon of Saint Cosmas Presbyter Against the Heretics, A Discussion and an Instruction from the Books of God. [4] It has been preserved in 25 full copies, all from East Slavic sources, and 116 excerpts or compilations, some of which are of South Slavic origin. [6] The earliest of the extant copies was made in the 15th century. [7] As attested by the large number of copies, Cosmas' work was particularly popular in medieval Russia and Serbia. There, it was even used as a basis for writings against other heresies. [2]
The treatise is recognised as the earliest [8] and most complete work [7] to tell of the nature of Bogomilism, its origins and its dualistic doctrine. As Catharism originated from Bogomilism, Sermon Against the Heretics is valuable as an insight into Catharism's Balkan predecessor. [8] It is also an important source on life and society in 10th-century Bulgaria, [2] which is described as suffering a major crisis, the glorious days of Peter's father Simeon the Great (r. 893–927) long over. [9]
Sermon Against the Heretics is divided into two sections, which may be seen as separate works due to their somewhat different topics. [2] [10] The first part presents details about various aspects of the Bogomil heresy and identifies a certain priest named Bogomil as its founder [7] (though, Cosmas claims, it was actually an act of the devil himself). The first section of the treatise is a vehement criticism of Bogomilism and its disobedient followers, [2] [3] whom Cosmas accuses of contributing to the degradation of Bulgarian society. [11] As Cosmas purposefully employed around 70 quotations from Apostle Paul to debunk the beliefs of Bogomils, he was very likely aware of the sect's ancestral ties to Paulicianism. [3]
The second part of the treatise contains Cosmas' criticism on contemporary Bulgarian society, with particular attention to the religious and social issues of the time. While Cosmas was a staunch supporter of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church's policies against Bogomilism, in the second section he spares no criticism to that religious body's other practices. Cosmas accuses the Bulgarian abbots and bishops of greed, gluttony and neglect towards the congregation. [4] He is also critical of hermits, whose popularity and influence at the time Cosmas saw as inappropriate. [12] [13] Cosmas hints that the emergence of Bogomilism should be blamed at least partially on the contemporary state of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. [2] [14]
Kozma Cove on Desolation Island of the South Shetland Islands in Antarctica was named in honour of Cosmas the Priest by the Antarctic Place-names Commission of Bulgaria. [15] The northeastern Bulgarian village of Kozma Prezviter in Omurtag Municipality, Targovishte Province, bears the name of the medieval writer. Until it was renamed in 1934, it was known under the Turkish appellation Kara Chufallar. [16] Streets in the major cities of Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna and Pernik have also been dedicated to Cosmas the Priest. [17]
Bogomilism was a Christian neo-Gnostic, dualist sect founded in the First Bulgarian Empire by the priest Bogomil during the reign of Tsar Peter I in the 10th century. It most probably arose in the region of Kutmichevitsa, today part of the region of Macedonia.
Kaliman Asen I, also known as Coloman Asen I or Koloman was Emperor (Tsar) of Bulgaria from 1241 to 1246. He was the son of Ivan Asen II of Bulgaria and Anna Maria of Hungary. He was only seven when he succeeded his father in 1241. In the following years, the Mongols invaded Bulgaria and imposed a yearly tax on the country. He may have been poisoned, according to contemporaneous rumors about his death.
Ivan Sratsimir, or Ivan Stratsimir, was emperor (tsar) of Bulgaria in Vidin from 1356 to 1396. He was born in 1324 or 1325, and he died in or after 1397. Despite being the eldest surviving son of Ivan Alexander, Ivan Sratsimir was disinherited in favour of his half-brother Ivan Shishman and proclaimed himself emperor in Vidin. When the Hungarians attacked and occupied his domains, he received assistance from his father and the invaders were driven away.
Grand, Great or Chief Župan is the English rendering of a South Slavic title which relates etymologically to Župan. It was most commonly attested among the Serbs.
Constantine Chrysomalus was a Byzantine monk who was posthumously condemned by a Synod of Constantinople as a teacher of heresies affiliated with Bogomilism and Messalianism. Although Chrysomalus and his writings, the Golden Sermons, had been accused of promoting Bogomil teachings, his association with Bogomilism has been contested by later scholars.
Strez was a medieval, semi-independent Bulgarian sebastokrator. He was a member of the Asen dynasty and a cousin or a brother of Boril of Bulgaria. A major contender for the Bulgarian throne, Strez initially opposed the ascension of his close relative Tsar Boril. He fled to Serbia, where he accepted the vassalage of Grand Prince Stefan Nemanjić, and Serbian support helped him establish himself as a largely independent ruler in a large part of the region of Macedonia. However, Strez turned against his suzerains to become a Bulgarian vassal and joined forces with his former enemy Boril against the Latins and then Serbia. Strez died amidst a major anti-Serbian campaign under unclear circumstances, sometimes described as a Serbian plot.
Hranislav was a Bulgarian military commander who was a close associate of rebel leader and later Tsar Ivaylo. After being captured by the Byzantines, Hranislav entered the service of Andronikos II Palaiologos as his megas tzaousios. As a Byzantine officer, he commanded a detachment which assisted the Catalan Company in the wars against the Anatolian Beyliks in Asia Minor.
Isbul was the kavhan, or first minister, of the First Bulgarian Empire during the reigns of Omurtag, Malamir and Presian I. Appointed to the kavhan office under Omurtag, Isbul was a regent or co-ruler of the underage Malamir and his successor Presian.
Sermon Against the Heresy is a polemical and didactic work of Old Bulgarian literature, written by Cosmas the Priest, a church writer close to Tsar Peter I of Bulgaria. Sermon bears the full title Homily of the Unworthy Presbyter Cosmas Against the Newly-Appeared Bogomil Heresy, or, in other manuscripts, Sermon of Saint Cosmas Presbyter Against the Heretics, A Discussion and an Instruction from the Books of God.
Mauros was a Bulgar leader, one of the chief subordinates and closest supporters of Kuber, a 7th-century Bulgar ruler in Macedonia. After orchestrating a foiled attempt to capture Thessaloniki for Kuber, Mauros remained in the city and joined the ranks of the Byzantine aristocracy. He was bestowed the noble title of patrikios and was deeply involved in the power struggle between Justinian II and Philippikos Bardanes in the beginning of the 8th century. Mauros is the earliest attested leader, styled archon, to be placed by the Byzantine government in charge of a dependent people, in this case the Bulgars and Sermesianoi who had fled to Byzantium.
Aldimir or Eltimir (Елтимир) was a Bulgarian noble of the 13th–14th century. A member of the Terter dynasty and a younger brother of Tsar George I Terter, Aldimir was an influential local ruler as the despot of Kran. Aldimir rose to that position under his brother George, though as Smilets assumed the throne he was forced into exile. At the turn of the 14th century, Aldimir returned to Bulgaria as an ally of the regent widowed consort Smiltsena. He did not oppose the accession of his nephew Theodore Svetoslav and even assisted him in ousting his contenders. However, he was promptly eliminated by Theodore Svetoslav when he betrayed him to ally with the Byzantines.
Jeremiah was a 10th-century Bulgarian priest and writer usually associated with the origins of Bogomilism. The earliest mention of him is found in a work of Patriarch Sisinnius II of Constantinople. He is sometimes associated with, though more often distinguished from, the priest Bogomil.
Bogomil was a 10th-century Bulgarian priest who was connected with the origins of Bogomilism. Bogomil is a Theophoric name consisting of Bog (God) and mil (dear) and means "[one who is] dear to god". He was declared a heresiarch by both the Catholic and Orthodox churches.
Kosmas the Zographite or Kozma Zografski was a medieval Bulgarian saint venerated in the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Vissarion was a Patriarch of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in the 13th century. He is the only Bulgarian Patriarch who was not included in the list of Patriarchs in the medieval Book of Boril. The only testimony of his existence is an undated seal reading "Vissarion, by the grace of God Patriarch of the Bulgarians". It is suggested that he presided over the Bulgarian Church during the rule of emperor Ivan Asen II and was omitted in the lists because he supported the union with the Catholic Church concluded by emperor Kaloyan and abolished by Ivan Asen II.
Macarius was a Patriarch of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in the 13th century. His name is known only from the medieval Book of Boril where he is listed as the fifth Patriarch presiding over the Bulgarian Church from Tarnovo. He is the only Patriarch mentioned as a "thrice beatified and saintly martyr" which signifies that he met a martyr's death. It is unknown how and when he died.
Ignatius was a Patriarch of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in the 13th century during the rule of Emperor Konstantin Tih. He is listed as the fourth Patriarch presiding over the Bulgarian Church from Tarnovo in the medieval Book of Boril.
Dorotheus was a Patriarch of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in the beginning of the 14th century. His name is known only from the medieval Book of Boril where he is listed as the seventh Patriarch presiding over the Bulgarian Church from Tarnovo, the capital of the Bulgarian Empire. Dorotheus led the Bulgarian Church during the reign of Emperor Theodore Svetoslav, who had his predecessor Patriarch Joachim III executed for treason in 1300.
Basil II was a Patriarch of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in the mid 13th century. His name is known only from the medieval Book of Boril where he is listed as the second Patriarch presiding over the Bulgarian Church from Tarnovo, the capital of the Bulgarian Empire. Basil II lead the Church in a period of crisis for the Bulgarian state after the demise of the successful Emperor Ivan Asen II.
Romylos of Vidin, also known as Romylos of Ravanica or Romylus the Athonite, was a 14th-century Bulgarian monk, a disciple of Gregory of Sinai. He is also known as the teacher of Grigorije of Gornjak. He is regarded as part of both Bulgarian and Serbian literature.
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