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Galileo Galilei
(15 Feb 1564 - 8 Jan 1642)
Italian scientist who
believed the Earth revolved around the Sun. For this, he was
interrogated by the Inquisition, was put on trial, found guilty and
sentenced to indefinite imprisonment. For renouncing his former beliefs
before the Cardinals that judged him, he was allowed to serve this time
instead under house-arrest.
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“I, Galileo Galilei, son of the
late Vincenzo Galilei, of Florence, aged seventy years, being brought
personally to judgment, and kneeling before your Most Eminent and Most
Reverend Lords Cardinals, General Inquisitors of the universal
Christian republic against heretical depravity, having before my eyes
the Holy Gospels, which I touch with my own hands, swear that I have
always believed, and now believe, and with the help of God will in
future believe, every article which the Holy Catholic and Apostolic
Church of Rome holds, teaches, and preaches. But because I have been
enjoined by this Holy Office altogether to abandon the false opinion
which maintains that the sun is the centre and immovable, and forbidden
to hold, defend, or teach the said false doctrine in any manner, and
after it hath been signified to me that the said doctrine is repugnant
with the Holy Scripture, I have written and printed a book, in which I
treat of the same doctrine now condemned, and adduce reasons with great
force in support of the same, without giving any solution, and
therefore have been judged grievously suspected of heresy; that is to
say, that I held and believed that the sun is the centre of the
universe and is immovable, and that the earth is not the centre and is
movable; willing, therefore, to remove from the minds of your
Eminences, and of every Catholic Christian, this vehement suspicion
rightfully entertained toward me, with a sincere heart and unfeigned
faith, I abjure, curse, and detest the said errors and heresies, and
generally every other error and sect contrary to Holy Church; and I
swear that I will never more in future say or assert anything verbally,
or in writing, which may give rise to a similar suspicion of me; but if
I shall know any heretic, or anyone suspected of heresy, that I will
denounce him to this Holy Office, or to the Inquisitor or Ordinary of
the place where I may be; I swear, moreover, and promise, that I will
fulfil and observe fully, all the penances which have been or shall be
laid on me by this Holy Office. But if it shall happen that I violate
any of my said promises, oaths, and protestations (which God avert!), I
subject myself to all the pains and punishments which have been decreed
and promulgated by the sacred canons, and other general and particular
constitutions, against delinquents of this description. So may God help
me, and his Holy Gospels which I touch with my own hands. I, the
above-named Galileo Galilei, have abjured, sworn, promised, and bound
myself as above, and in witness thereof with my own hand have
subscribed this present writing of my abjuration, which I have recited
word for word. At Rome, in the Convent of Minerva, June 22, 1633. I,
Galileo Galilei, have abjured as above with my own hand.”
— Galileo Galilei
Abjuration, 22 Jun 1633
See also:
- Today in Science History short biography of Galileo Galilei, born 15 Feb 1564.

