Nektarios Terpos (Aromanian:Nectar Tãrpo;[1]Greek:Νεκτάριος Τέρπος; late 17th century–18th century) was anOrthodox Christian scholar and monk fromMoscopole (today inAlbania) ofAromanian ethnicity. He was the author of an important religious book, calledA Handbook called Faith (Greek:Βιβλιάριο καλούμενον Πίστις), which was first published in 1732. Terpos, together withCosmas of Aetolia, was one of the major contributors of religious and cultural revival under theOttoman rule.[2]
Terpos came from a wealthy family and spend his childhood inMoscopole.[3] He was ofAromanian ethnic background.[4][5] As a missionary he travelled inEpirus, covering vast areas fromArta toBerat.[3] Terpos is also remembered for his work in theArdenica Monastery where in 1731 he wrote a prayer in the form of a fresco. The prayer is in four languages (Albanian,Aromanian,Greek andLatin) and is the first writing in Albanian found in an Eastern Orthodox Church.[6] It is also the oldest known text in the Aromanian language.[7]
Persecuted, Terpo migrated toItaly, where in 1732 he published his main work namedA Handbook called Faith (Greek:Βιβλιάριο καλούμενον Πίστις).[8] The book was republished 12 times in less than a century (1732–1818).[3] In the book Terpo chastises theCrypto-Christians of Albania, and invites them to never abandon the religion of their forefathers.[9]
The quadrilingual prayer (in Greek, Albanian, Aromanian and Latin) accompanying this icon indicates Terpos' Aromanian ethnic background, since Greek and Albanian would be the minimum languages spoken by intellectuals in these regions.
The Albanian text in Greek script readsVirgjin ë Mame eperndis uro prë nee faj torëte and is ascribed to one Nektarios Terpos, a cleric of no doubt Aromunian origin from Voskopoja.