Gregory Tsamblak

Gregory Tsamblak (left) on the Council of Constance.

Gregory Tsamblak or Grigorij Camblak (Bulgarian: Григорий Цамблак; Romanian: Grigore Ţamblac); (c.1365-1420) was a Bulgarian writer and cleric, metropolitan of Kiev between 1413 and 1420. A Bulgarian noble, Tsamblak lived and worked Bulgaria, but also in Medieval Serbia as well as in Kyivan Rus and indebted these two countries to himself through his literary works, which represent a heritage of their national literatures.

Life

He was born in the capital of the Bulgarian Empire Tarnovo into a rich family. His uncle was Cyprian, Metropolitan of Moscow. Tsamblak was a disciple of the prominent Bulgarian hesychast, writer and follower of Patriarch Evtimiy of Bulgaria. After the fall of Bulgaria under Ottoman domination following the Bulgarian-Ottoman Wars he emigrated first to Constantinople, then became presbyter of the Church of Wallachia and Moldavia, and then he went to Serbia where he was abbott of Visoki Decani until finally becoming metropolitan of Kyiv.

Medieval Serbia

Tsamblak stayed in Serbia from 1402 until his departure Rus. During his sojourn in Serbia at Visoki Dečani, he wrote a biography of Stephen Uroš III Dečanski of Serbia, hymn for the church service honoring Stefan of Dečani, a report on the transfer of the remnants of Saint Paraskeva to Serbia, and he also rewrote the Service to St. Petka (Paraskeva).

Kyivan Rus

In 1409 Gregory Tsamblak came to Kyiv. Continued action of metropolitan of Kyiv Cyprians. In 1414 he became the metropolitan of Kyiv. Participated in Council of Constance and called for the agreement and church connections.

Tsamblak has been well-known and much appreciated in Kyivan Rus, Serbia and his native Bulgaria.

Tsamblak Hill on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica is named after Gregory Tsamblak.

Preceded by Cyprian, Metropolitan of Kyiv

Metropolitan of Kyiv, Galychyna and All-Rus' 1414–1420

Succeeded by Photius, Metropolitan of Kyiv