May 1921-1923 A.D. Meletius IV Metaxakis—Constantinople’s 260th; Bishop of Athens

May 1921-1923 A.D.  Meletius IV Metaxakis—Constantinople’s 260^th;  Bishop of Athens

 

Meletius IV of Constantinople

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Patriarch Meletius IV of Constantinople (1923).

Patriarch Meletius (Greek: Μελέτιος, secular name Emmanuel Metaxakis; born 21 September 1871 - 28 July 1935) was Greek Patriarch of Alexandria under the episcopal name Meletius II from 1926 to 1935.^[1] He also was the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople under name Meletius IV from 1921 to 1923.^[2] Before his election to the Ecumenical Patriarchate he had briefly headed the Church of Greece in Athens.

He was the only Eastern Orthodox hierarch in history to serve successively as the senior bishop of three autocephalous churches.

A known supporter of Greek Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos, he served as Bishop in Cyprus, until he was elected Archbishop of Athens following the abdication of Constantine I of Greece, replacing Archbishop Theocletus I, a known Royalist. Two years later King Constantine I was restored to the throne, Archbishop Meletius was ousted, and former Archbishop Theocletus I was reinstated. In 1921 he was elected Ecumenical Patriarch. He resigned in 1923 following the defeat of the Hellenic Army in the Greco-Turkish War.

Some years later he was elected Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria. He died in 1935.

References

1.      Jump up^ "Meletios II Metaxakis (1926–1935)". Official web site of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa. Retrieved 2011-02-07.

2.      Jump up^ "List of Patriarchs". Official web site of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. Retrieved 2011-02-07.

External links

·         His All Holiness, Ecumenical Patriarch Meletius IV of Constantinople^{[dead link]}

·         List of the members of the Freemason Grand Lodge of Greece including Patriarch Meletius IV of Constantinople

·         Patriarch Meletius IV of Constantinople, OrthodoxWiki entry

Orthodox Church titles
Preceded by Theocletus I	Metropolitan of Athens and All Greece as Meletius III 1918–1920	Succeeded by Theocletus I
Vacant Title last held by Germanus V	Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople as Meletius IV 1921–1923	Succeeded by Gregory VII
Preceded by Photius	Greek Patriarch of Alexandria as Meletius II 1926–1935	Succeeded by Nicholas V