Gregory of Sanok

Who was Gregory of Sanok?

Gregory of Sanok was a Polish bishop, a professor at Academy of Krakow, metropolitan archbishop of Lwow, scholar, philosopher, and a major figure of Polish humanism.

He left his home at age twelve and for the next ten years traveled across Europe, including to Germany, where he learned the language.

After his prolonged studies abroad, in 1421 he returned and initially studied at University of Krakow serving as choirmaster during his student days. Gregory graduated in 1433, was appointed as tutor to the children of Jan Tarnowski, and journeyed with the family to Italy. He came to the attention of Pope Eugenius IV and studied in Florence. After his return to Poland in 1439 he was a professor of Graeco-Roman poetry and Italian literature at the Academy of Krakow. He became Archbishop of Lwów in 1451 and a pioneer of Polish Humanism. He gathered groups of scholars and poets to his residence in Dunajów.