Historian

F:. Ypsilanti

(Banks 1917 – Athens 2006)

His family left Trebizond in 1923, after the Asia Minor disaster, and came to Athens. Od. Lampsidis grows up in deprivation and does all kinds of work. He manages to finish school and leaves to study in Germany. He enters the University of Munich in the Philosophy department. Due to financial difficulties he is forced to return to Athens. In 1935 he enrols at the University of Athens and specializes in Byzantine studies. At the same time, he was engaged in Pontian studies and Pontian Hellenism. The longing for his homeland would never leave him. In 1938 he enlisted and in 1940 he fought in Albania as a reserve lieutenant commander. After the war he graduates from the University of Athens. Then he gets his doctorate (subject : The punishment of blindness in Byzantium). He starts publishing original studies and researches. He collaborates and becomes a member of the journal ”Archaeon Pontus” published by Metropolitan Chrysanthos of Trebizond, Tecton and himself, later Archbishop of Athens. In 1962 Lampsidis became president of the “Pontium Archive” which, apart from publishing the magazine, also functioned as a spiritual centre in Smyrna. He then taught history and literature courses in selected private schools (Leontion Lyceum, Moraitis School, German School). Lampsidi’s writings, books and editions number over 200 titles. We selectively mention : The Empire of the Great Komnenoi, The Chronicle of Ephraim, The Synopsis of Constantine Manasses, etc. Lambsidis’ works are known in many universities abroad and in Greece and are the basis of studies and reference. In 198 he was awarded a doctorate by the University of Ioannina.