First and main donor of “Nikolopoulios Library” is Konstantinos-Agathofronas Nikolopoulos. His father Georgakis Nikolopoulos was from Andritsaina and after the revolution of Orlov failed he left for Smyrna fearing reprisals. His mother Panagiota Matzourani was also from Andritsaina and was a midwife.
Konstantinos Nikolopoulos was born in Smyrna in 1786. After finishing the Evangelical School of Smyrna at the age of 18, he went to Bucharest, where his half-brother used to live, and studied as a teacher. At age 20 (in October 1806), he moved to Paris and lived for years teaching the Greek language and literature. He was a Greek literature professor at the “Athenaeum” in Paris and probably worked as a teacher in various educational institutions. In parallel, he also worked on poetry and music and while still alive, his name was included in the “International Biography of Musicians”. Nikolopoulos, a genius and extremely studious, a warm patriot, avid book collector, connoisseur of Greek language and literature, was also fluent in spoken and written French, German and Italian. He joined the Ionian Academy and the Paris Arts Society and was appointed to a remarkable position at the French Institute Library (deputy librarian). He was a member of the “Greek Society” of Paris, founded in 1828 and also held a mandate as General Secretary thereof for a while.
Living in Paris, he became a regular contributor to “Logios Ermis” magazine, publishing poems and articles, and collaborated with various European magazines, supplying news, book reviews and comments. He published “Melissa” magazine with Sp. Kondos and the works of his scholar friend Zalikis. “Melissa” (1819-1821) published only three issues; nevertheless, it was a significant publishing venture thanks to its revolutionary orientation. He also published songs and odes, among which the characteristic “Ode to Spring”, dedicated to Kapodistrias. From 1819-1831 he was one of the partners of the Paris Encyclopaedic Review, writing articles, studies, book reviews, obituaries, comments. After the start of the liberation struggle he published battle hymns, anthems, exhortations and appeals to Greek and philhellene fighters. Pure patriotism and a passion to see Greece liberated pervade all his works.
In Paris he formed a great Library, known to be at its time one of the best private libraries. He decided to donate this Library to the birthplace of his father, Andritsaina, motivated by a belief that studying and knowledge will lead Greece to a rapid regrowth. He made this decision known to the Municipality of Andritsaina by a Letter in 1838.
The Municipality of Andritsaina accepted his valuable donation and sent to Paris Charalambos Christopoulos, Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, and Konstantinos Farmakis – Zarifopoulos, Mayor, to collect the books. The books were transferred (in 47 boxes) in 1840 from Paris to Nafplio by boat and from there by animals to Andritsaina, and were temporarily placed in the church of Agia Varvara, close to the School.
He died on 12 June 1841 at the Hospital (Hotel Dieu), with no relatives.
In 1932 his books were finally placed in one wing of the Gymnasion building after many adversities. They are precious and scarce, dating from 1500 onwards (first versions of printing). Many books include notes, signatures, dedications of famous men (book stamps, dukes and barons badges, etc.). The Library of Nikolopoulos also includes information on all disciplines and sciences of that era (History, Geography, Law, Medicine, etc.) and contains Greek classic writers in many versions.
In 2003, the Panhellenic Association of Friends of Andritsaina Library (Athens-Fribourg) donated the furniture equipment to house the “Nikolopoulos” collection in our Library.
CATALOG OF THE LIBRARY OF K.-A. NICOLOPOULOS IN ANDRITSAINA
A LETTER FROM KONSTANTINOS-AGATHOFRONAS NIKOLOPOULOS
Kind Mayor of Andritsaina,
Honourable consultants of the Municipality,
And all other citizens of Andritsaina,
Friends and brothers
Beloved compatriots!
After spending thirty years in Paris as an art lover and striving for the common good of Greece and in particular of Andritsaina, the place of birth of my late and virtuous father, Chatzi-Georgakis Nikolopoulos Misirtzis, commissioner of the Holy Sepulcher, who passed away long ago in Smyrna, after having enjoyed a full life, it is with great effort, pain and dedication that I compiled a large and quite remarkable Library in every respect; I intend to come to Andritsaina and share any knowledge that I have acquired in the enlightened France and live with you, the good and studious Arcadians, the rest of my life, peacefully and happily. Since I heard that you wish to establish an organised regular school to educate your children, increase and improve your trade, perfect the salutary art of agriculture and in other words contribute to the well-being of the inhabitants of Andritsaina and the rest of the Peloponnese, it is with great pleasure, my friends and brothers, that I wish to donate to you all the wealth that the almighty God offered to me in His benevolence, that is to say, my entire Library. In the words of the Apostle, I do not own silver and gold; I can only offer you what I possess. I kindly ask you to promptly designate two trustworthy officials from Andritsaina, to whom I shall unhesitatingly offer the aforementioned goods, because I do not see any other way to proceed. In the meantime, I urge you to establish a Greek and distinguished school, so that, when, God willing, I will come to Andritsaina as I greatly desire, it may become, as I hope, a common Academy for the entire Peloponnese.
I wish you, virtuous, art loving and patriotic men to always be well and happy.
Your compatriot,
Agathofron Nikolopoulos
ά la Bibliotheque de l? Institut,ά Paris.
Paris, 1st June 1838
P.S.: Please address any letters for me to my beloved nephew in Athens, Mr Charalampos Christopoulos, from Andritsaina.
