Editing Gennadius Scholarius (section)

== Writings ==
About 100 to 120 of his alleged writings exist, some of which have never been published, and some of which are of doubtful authenticity. As far as is known, his writings may be classified into philosophical (interpretations of Aristotle, [[Porphyry (philosopher)|Porphyry]] and others), translations of [[Peter of Spain]] and [[Thomas Aquinas]], defenses of Aristotelianism against the recrudescence of [[Neoplatonism]] and theological and ecclesiastical (partly concerning the union and partly defending Christianity against Muslims, Jews, and [[Paganism|pagan]]s), in addition to numerous [[homily|homilies]], [[hymn]]s, and letters.

Gennadius II was a prolific writer during all the periods of his life.<ref name="Michalcescu_13">{{harvp|Michalcescu|1904|p=13}}</ref> The complete works of Gennadius II were published in eight volumes by Jugie, Petit & Siderides, 1928–1936.<ref>Martin Jugie, Luis Petit, and Xenophon Sideridis, 1928–1930, ''Oeuvres complètes de Georges (Gennadios) Scholarios'', Paris, [[Bayard Presse|Maison de la Bonne Presse]]</ref> (Note: this edition supersedes the references made below.)

=== First Period (pro-Union) ===
The chief works of this time are the "speeches" made at the [[Council of Florence]],<ref>Printed in Hardouin, IX, and ''[[Patrologia Graeca]]'', CLX, 386 sqq.</ref> also a number of letters addressed to various friends, bishops, and statesmen, mostly unedited. An ''Apology for five chapters of the Council of Florence''<ref>Edited first (in Latin) at Rome in 1577, and again in 1628.</ref> is doubtful.<ref>In ''Patrologia Graeca'', CLIX is attributed to Joseph of Methone.</ref> A ''History of the Council of Florence'' under his name (in manuscript only) is really identical with that of Syropulos.<ref>Ed. Creighton, The Hague, 1660.</ref>

=== Second Period (anti-Union) ===
A great number of polemical works against Latins were written in this time. Two books about the ''Procession of the [[Holy Ghost]]'';<ref>One in Simonides, the other in ''Patrologia Graeca'', CLX, 665</ref> another one "against the insertion of the ''[[Filioque]]'' in the Creed";<ref>''Patrologia Graeca'', CLX, 713</ref> two books and a letter about "[[Purgatory]]"; various sermons and speeches; a ''[[Panegyric]] of [[Mark of Ephesus]]'' (in 1447), etc. Some translations of works of Saint Thomas Aquinas, and polemical treatises against his theology by Gennadius II are still unedited, as is also his work against the Barlaamites. However, his hostility toward Aquinas can be overstated. Marcus Plested observes that Gennadius II's "love and esteem for Thomas was to continue undimmed throughout his career although he would often accentuate the note of caution in later works". Despite his cautions, Gennadius writes of Thomas "We love this divinely-inspired and wise man".<ref name="Luis Petit p. 129"/>

There are also various philosophical treatises of which the chief is a ''Defence of Aristotle'' (''antilepseis hyper Aristotelous'') against the Neoplatonist, [[Gemistos Plethon]].<ref>''Patrologia Graeca'', CLX, 743 sqq.</ref>

His most important work is easily his "Confession" (''Ekthesis tes pisteos ton orthodoxon christianon'', generally known as ''Homologia tou Gennadiou'') addressed to [[Mehmed II]]. It contains twenty articles, of which however only the first twelve are authentic. It was written in Greek; Achmed, [[Qadi]] of [[Veria|Berrhoea]], translated it into [[Turkish language|Turkish]]. This is the first (in date) of the Orthodox Symbolic books. It was published first (in Greek and Latin) by Brassicanus (Vienna, 1530), and again by Chytræus (Frankfurt, 1582). [[Martin Crusius]] printed it in [[Greek language|Greek]], [[Latin]], and Turkish (in Greek and Latin script) in his ''Turco-Græcia'' (Basle, 1584 reprinted in ''[[Patrologia Graeca]]'', CLX 333, sqq.). Rimmel reprinted it (Greek and Latin) (in his ''Monumenta fidei Eccl. Orient.'', (Jena, 1850), I, 1–10.); and Michalcescu in Greek only. There exists an arrangement of this Confession in the form of a dialogue in which Mehmed asks questions ("What is God?" – "Why is he called ''theos''?" – "And how many Gods are there?" and so on) and Gennadius II gives suitable answers. This is called variously Gennadius II's ''Dialogue'' (''dialexis'', διάλεξις), or ''Confessio prior'', or ''De Via salutis humanæ'' (''Peri tes hodou tes soterias anthropon''). Rimmel prints it first, in Latin only, and thinks it was the source of the Confession. It is more probably a later compilation made from the Confession by someone else. It should be noticed that Gennadius II's (quasi-Platonic) philosophy is in evidence in his Confession (God cannot be interpreted, ''theos'' from ''theein'', etc.; cf. Rimmel). Either for the same reason or to spare Muslim susceptibility he avoids the word ''Prosopa'' in explaining the [[Trinity]], speaking of the three Persons as ''idiomata'' "which we call [[Hypostasis (philosophy and religion)|Hypostases]]".

=== Third Period (post-resignation) ===
During the third period, from his resignation to his death (1459–1468), he continued writing theological and polemical works. An [[encyclical]] letter to all Christians ''In defence of his resignation'' is unedited, as are also a ''Dialogue with two Turks about the divinity of Christ'', and a work about the ''Adoration of God'', Jahn (''Anecdota græca'') has published a ''Dialogue between a Christian and a Jew'' and a collection of ''Prophecies about Christ'' gathered from the [[Old Testament]]. A treatise, ''About our God, one in three, against [[Atheists]] and [[Polytheists]]'',<ref>''Patrologia Graeca'', CLX, 667 sqq.</ref> is chiefly directed against the theory that the world may have been formed by chance. Five books, ''About the Foreknowledge and Providence of God'' and a ''Treatise on the manhood of Christ'', are also in ''[[Patrologia Graeca]]'', CLX. Lastly, there are many homilies by Gennadius II, most of which exist only in manuscript at [[Mount Athos]].<ref>''Codd. Athous'', Paris, 1289–1298.</ref>