JOAN EKZARH

Joan Ekzarh was a medieval Bulgarian scholar, writer and translator, one of the most important men of letters working at the Preslav Literary School at the end of the 9^th and the beginning of the 10^th century. Evidence about his life is scarce but his literary legacy suggests an excellent knowledge of Greek. It is generally assumed that Joan Ekzarh received his education at one of the Byzantine literary schools.
 Joan Ekzarh’s literary work includes a number of translations of medieval Byzantine authors, the most important is the translation On Orthodox Christianity by Byzantine theologian Ioann Damaskin (ca. 895). He is also the author of several original works and compilations, the most important of which is the compilation "Shestodnev". The compilation includes parts of the works of several Byzantine authors, most notably Basilius the Great, as well as original parts which give valuable first-hand evidence about Bulgarian Empire under Simeon I (893 – 927). Joan Ekzarh describes the royal palace and the Bulgarian ruler and gives information about his attire, the boyars, the social stratification of the Bulgarian society.