Gerasimos Merianos - Alchemy as a Path to Divine Knowledge in Byzantium

By the seventh century, alchemy in Byzantium had evidently been Christianized. This process was lengthy and complex, but also redefined certain aspects of the conception of alchemy itself. The “sacred art” was regarded by specific Byzantine alchemical authors as participation in divine knowledge, access to which is granted, as a gift, by God’s grace. However, divine knowledge was believed to be accessible only to philosopher alchemists possessing certain virtues and pursuing a God-pleasing purpose. Thus, the pursuit of knowledge was linked to the pursuit of moral life, a traditional philosophical quest. The repercussions of such ideas were not insignificant, as they contributed to the demarcation between “worthy” and “unworthy” practitioners, in essence delineating the boundaries between true philosophers and amateurs or charlatans.
Gerasimos Merianos (Institute of Historical Research, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens)