Simón Láscaris y la misión de Chimarra (Himarë) en el Epiro del norte: nuevos documentos inéditos

Abstract

Symeon Lascaris, archbishop of Durazzo and missionary sent by the Roman Congregation De Propaganda Fide to Himarë (southern Albania), is a controversial figure in the “Hellenic” movement of the 17th century. Previous scholars such as Borgia and Sciambra had a rather negative impression of him and so raised a number of questions in his regard. With the aid of unpublished documents from the Archives of the Congregation De Propaganda Fide,and using previously known documents, this paper tries to give a balanced judgement of his career in Himarë and to present him as an example of an ecclesiastic of his time who sincerely believed in the possibility of Church union, but found strong opposition, from both the political and the religious structures.