An Ottoman Rum scholar in Russia: Evgenios Voulgaris and the enlightenment in the Orthodox church

Evgenios Voulgaris lived in Venice, the Ottoman Empire, German city states and Russia. One of the important Rum scholars of the 18th century, Voulgaris developed his own ideas which were nourished by various intellectual traditions. He spread the idea of the Enlightenment among the Orthodox through educational institutions and his works. Having led the discussions within the scope of the Enlightenment thought of Rum scholars, Voulgaris became a part of the interaction with his activities in the Ottoman Empire, Germany and Russia. The fact that he carried out his scholarly activities across various cultures, worlds of ideas and political borders shows the existence of connected areas in the 18th century. This thesis is aimed at going beyond the stereotypical narrative of Enlightenment scholars through Voulgaris, and discusses how the Rums, as actors of interaction, had an impact on Russian and Ottoman lands.