Zosimades and Korais

          A great amount of money was allocated for the publication of the “Hellenic Library” of Adamantios Korais. The close friendship among Korais and Zosimades and mostly with Michail, date back to 1803, the year when Korais in Paris delivered before the Scientific Society of Observers (Société des Οbservateurs de l’homme), the “Memorandum on the present condition and the civilization of Greece” (Mémoire sur l’ état actuel de la civilisation dans la Grèce, Lu à la Société des Observateurs de l’ homme, le 16 Nivôse, an XI (6 Janvier 1803). Par Coray, Docteur en Médecine, et Membre de ladite Société). The “Memorandum” was considered both by contemporary and later generations as a fiery defence of the Greek genos (ethnicity, stock), a philosophical research and interpretation of “the national and political adventures of the Greek genos”. Moreover, Korais tried to prove that the Greek genos depicted already significant signs that guaranteed its prospective Renaissance. The first edition was not sold; it was distributed to Korais’s friends and the familiar environment of Zosimas and Spaniolakis instead.

            In the series “Hellenic Library”, Korais circulated until 1827, a collection of ancient texts that he prologued, citing his views on Greek education and language and emphatically supporting the need for disseminating European ideas in Greek schools by means of using a scholarly vernacular for the facilitation of the educational process.

Zosimades, the Great Benefactors

          Zois Zosimas who led a frugal life in Moscow, deposited 20.000 rubles into the Imperial Orphanage allocated on a Greek language teacher’s salary, and tended to the distribution of free books to students. He made similar donations to Lomonosov University of Moscow, the Imperial Physics Society, the Practical Commercial Academy (Praktiko-Emporiki), the Greek Monastery and the High School (Gymnasio) of Moscow especially for the creation of a Greek language course. He also founded the Medico-Surgical Academy of Moscow, under the condition of the retention of a Greek language teacher there. For his contributions on “Medical Science and the Surgical Academy, and the University of Moscow”, Zois was honored with the medals of Saint Anna 2^nd degree and Saint Vladimiros 4^th degree.

            In Nizna, the Zosimades established a charitable institution, for the caring of ill and poor members of the Greek community, as well as the Greek School in the era of Emperor Alexander 1^st, the Holy Church of Saint Constantinos and the Greek Cemetery, in which they rest.

             In Greece, the Zosimades allotted excessive amounts to finance the War of Independence even though they did not live to see their own country as a free state. They also bestowed a generous amount upon orphan offspring, upon those who died for their country and all those who struggled with destitution.

            The brotherhood offered money and donated books to Patmiada School, the Libraries of Zakynthos, Crete, and Corfu, and the Philological Gymnasio (High School) of Smyrna. “The donated books by the belated Zosimades” were used as the core of the National Library of Athens, as well as of the Catholic Monastery of Panagia Tenedou in Corfu, that constituted the subsequent great library of the Ionian Academy.

            In the free Greek state, the Zosimades offered their 18.000 coin collection, which became the basic nucleus of the Monetary Museum of Athens.

            The National Bank of Greece was established on 30 March 1841 with a fund of 5.000.000 drachmas divided in 5.000 shares of 1.000 drachmas each. The state would buy 1.000 shares out of the total sum. Nikolaos Zosimas was among the first shareholders of the National Bank having owned 500 shares of the newly established credit institution. The Zosimades’ friendship with the first Bank Manager Georgios Stavros had been long term and close, owing also to the familial relationship with the father of G.Stavros, Stavros Ioannou or Tsapalamos.

            They gave excessive amounts to the town of Ioannina, not only during their lifetime but also after their deaths. In his will, Nikolaos, the last Zosimas, bequeathed the totality of the Brotherhood’s wealth to local charities.

            The Βrothers minded for the operation and “the vital necessities of the sick” of the Community Hospital of Ioannina, established by their compatriot benefactor Georgios Chatzikostas.

            They supported the renovation, the embellishment, and the operating expenses of some of the churches of Ioannina (St.Athanasios, (Metropolis), St.Nikolaos, the Dormition of Theotokos (Archimantrio), St.Marina and Perivleptos).

            They also provided for those who got imprisoned on the grounds of debt, for the destitute, and the miserable; they endowed poor and orphaned young girls, they established a “Ptohokomeion” (old people’s home) for about twenty or thirty old pauper “weak and crippled” people.

            The Zosimades occupy a special position in the Enlightenment of the city of Ioannina, due to their involvement in the educational affairs of the city of Letters that engendered the phenomenon of the Zosimaia School.