Patriarch Demetrios I (Papadopoulos)
Patriarch Demetrios I (Papadopoulos) (1914-1991)
Demetrios may be spelt Dēmētrios, Dimitrios, Dimitrius, Dimitrie, Dimitry, Dmitry.
Early life of Demetrios Panagiotou Papadopoulos
On 8 September, 1914, Demetrios Panagiotou Papadopoulos was born to Panagiotis and Irini Papadopoulos in Therapia, Constantinople (Istanbul), in the Ottoman Empire (now Turkey).
Demetrios was raised in his family as an Orthodox Christian in the bosom of the Church of Constantinople.
He received his primary education in Therapia (also called Tarabya), and his secondary education in the Greek-French Lyceum of Galata in Istanbul.
Higher education
In 1931, Demetrios Panagiotou then travelled to Halki Island (also called Heybeliada), one of the Princes' Islands in the Sea of Marmora, near Constantinople/Istanbul, Turkey. There, he entered the Holy Trinity Theological School on Halki.
Demetrios graduated in 1937. His thesis was entitled “The Resurrection of the Lord and the Objections against it”.
Holy Trinity Monastery and Seminary, Heybeliada/Halki
Diaconal ordination, 1937
On 25 April, 1937, Demetrios Panagiotou Papadopoulos was ordained to the Holy Diaconate by Titular Bishop Philotheos (Stavridis) of Nazianzus.
Diaconal service
From October, 1937, to August, 1938, Deacon Demetrios Papadopoulos served as Secretary and Staff Preacher of the Metropolis of Edessa and Pella.
From August, 1938, to April, 1939, he served at the Temple of Saints Constantine and Helen in Istanbul.
Temple of Saints Constantine and Helen, Istanbul
From May, 1939, until March, 1942, he served as a deacon in the Istanbul district of Feriköy, in the Temple of the Twelve Apostles.
Temple of the Twelve Apostles, Feriköy
Presbyteral ordination, 1942
On 29 March, 1942, Deacon Demetrios Papadopoulos was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by Titular Metropolitan Philotheos (Stavridis) of Prokonnesos.
Pastoral service
From 29 March, 1942, Priest Demetrios Papadopoulos continued to serve in the Temple of the Twelve Apostles (which includes a school) in Feriköy, but now as a priest.
Transfer to Tehran, Persia, 1945
From 1945 to 1950, Priest Demetrios Papadopoulos was assigned to serve abroad as the Head of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Tehran, Persia.
Annunciation Greek Orthodox Temple, Teheran
Father Demetrios was responsible for organising this community. He also received the honourary approval by the Shah of Persia, and he taught the ancient Greek language at the University of Tehran.
Return to Istanbul, 1950
After this period of service, he was transferred back to Istanbul, and he was returned to Feriköy to serve as the head of the community from 1950 to 1964.
On 23 July, 1964, Archimandrite Demetrios (Papadopoulos) was elected by the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Church of Constantinople to become a bishop.
Episcopal ordination, 1964
On 9 August, 1964, Archimandrite Demetrios (Papadopoulos) was ordained to the Holy Episcopate at the Temple of Saint Demetrios in Tataoulon. The ordination was performed by Metropolitan Meliton (Khatzis) of Helioupolis and Thera. He was assisted by Metropolitan Ieronymos (Konstantinidis) of Rodopolis, and Metropolitan Emilianos (Tsakopoulos) of Miletus.
Temple of Saint Demetrios, Tataoulon
Episcopal service
Bishop Demetrios (Papadopoulos) was assigned to serve as Titular Bishop of Eleia (“Ελαίας”), Vicar-Bishop of the Archdiocese of Constantinople, and he was assigned in particular to lead the episcopal district of Tataoulon (Kourtoulous). He was responsible for the parishes in Feriköy, Haskiöy, and the Annunciation Temple of Tataoulon (“Ταταούλων”).
On 15 February, 1972, Bishop Demetrios (Papadopoulos) was elected Metropolitan of Imbros and Tenedos (islands also named Gökçeada and Bozcaada). Because these islands belong to Turkey, the Greek-speaking population had been decreasing in number, and this trend continued (as was the case even in Constantinople).
On 7 July, 1972, Patriarch Athenagoras (Spyrou) of Constantinople fell asleep in the Lord.
On 16 July, 1972, Metropolitan Demetrios (Papadopoulos) was elected by the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Patriarchate of Constantinople to become the next Ecumenical Patriarch. It is noteworthy that during the election, the Turkish government had removed the names of 4 of the candidates from the list. Of these, 2 were Metropolitan Meliton (Hadzis), secretary of the Holy Synod, and Archbishop Iakovos (Coucouzis), Archbishop of North and South America.
Patriarch of Constantinople, 1972
On 18 July, 1972, Metropolitan Demetrios (Papadopoulos) was enthroned by the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Patriarchate of Constantinople as "Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch" at the Patriarchal Cathedral of Saint George in the Phanar district of Istanbul.
Saint George Cathedral, Patriarchal Compound, the Phanar, Istanbul
Patriarchal service
Patriarch Demetrios was careful about his and the patriarchate’s relationship with the Turkish government. Regardless of its officially secular status, elements in Turkish society could at any time find an excuse as Muslims to attack the Orthodox Christians. The patriarchal compound itself has repeatedly been the recipient of violent attention by certain groups, and in one such instance, a deacon was killed in that compound when a grenade was thrown at it. In this context, Patriarch Demetrios (generally a “reserved” person) remained at first mostly in and around the patriarchate. Nevertheless, once he had settled into his new responsibilities, he began to visit the flock entrusted to him both locally and internationally.
Since 1972, it has been clarified that the Patriarch of Constantinople is the “co-head-of-state” of the Holy Mountain of Athos, and that the monasteries of the Holy Mountain are all under the direct jurisdiction of the patriarch. This clarification came about after a long series of international disagreements and misunderstandings.
Patriarch Demetrios made his first official visit to the Holy Mountain of Athos in 1973. His second visit was 10 years later, in 1983.
Continuing exchange of visits between New Rome and Old Rome
On 29-30 November, 1979, the Feast-day of the Holy and Glorious Apostle Andrew the First-called, Pope John Paul II of Rome, together with his entourage, visited the Ecumenical Patriarchate and attended the Divine Liturgy that was celebrated in the Patriarchal Cathedral of Saint George. The pope was welcomed by Patriarch Demetrios, along with all the Synodical and local hierarchs, as well as with other hierarchs from abroad.
Establishment of the International Joint Theological Dialogue between Orthodox and Roman Catholics
Patriarch Demetrios (with the consent of all Local Orthodox Churches) and Pope John Paul II together announced at the Phanar in Istanbul the establishment of the official International Joint Theological Dialogue between the Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church.
Pan-Orthodox meetings preparatory to a Pan-Orthodox synod
Patriarch Demetrios called the first 3 Pan-Orthodox Meetings for the preparation of the Pan-Orthodox Synod at the Orthodox Center of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Chambésy, Switzerland.
The Third Conference took place in 1986. However, the hoped-for Pan-Orthodox Synod did not take place until 2016.
Patriarch Demetrios received visits at the Ecumenical Patriarchate from Archbishops of Canterbury of the Church of England : Archbishops M Ramsey, D Coggan and R Runcie. At the 1977 visit of Archbishop Coggan, there was an open disagreement about the ordination of women.
In 1981, celebrations were held for the 1,600th anniversary of the convening of the Second Ecumenical Council of 381 in Constantinople.
Diocese of Switzerland ; Orthodox Centre in Chambésy, 1982
In 1982, Patriarch Demetrios and the Holy Synod of Constantinople established the Metropolitanate (diocese) of Switzerland. The Metropolitanate of Switzerland came to play an important role in the Patriarchate of Constantinople because within its territory is the Orthodox Center of the Patriarchate of Constantinople in Chambésy, a village 3 km (1.8 mi) north of Geneva. The residence of the Metropolitan of Switzerland is also located at the centre. This centre had been founded in 1966 under Patriarch Athenagoras (Spyrou) in case the Patriarch of Constantinople might be required to leave Istanbul (because of anti-Christian politics in Turkey). Moreover, since the headquarters of the World Council of Churches is located in Geneva , the Orthodox Centre in Chambésy became the focus of the ecumenical activity of the Patriarchate of Constantinople
In 1983, Patriarch Demetrios made his second visit to Mount Athos and its monasteries.
1,200th anniversary of the 7th Ecumenical Council, 1987
In 1987, Patriarch Demetrios led the celebrations marking the 1,200th anniversary of the 7th Ecumenical Council of 787 in Nicaea. These celebrations were culminated in his visit to Rome.
On 3-7 December, 1987, Patriarch Demetrios (Papadopoulos) travelled to Rome, where he was received by Pope John Paul II. At a solemn ceremony in Saint Peter's Basilica, the Patriarchs of East and West together recited, in Greek, the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed of the Church as originally expressed, that is, without the added word “filioque”.
In 1987, Patriarch Demetrios made a formal fraternal visit to the Church of Greece, and he concelebrated the Divine Liturgy with Archbishop Seraphim (Tikas) of Athens and All Greece.
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Visit to the Church of Russia, and other Churches, 1987
In the second half of August, 1987, Patriarch Demetrios visited the Soviet Union (USSR) on a visit to the Church of Russia (an official return visit to the Church in Russia, following the visit of Patriarch Pimen (Izvekov) to Constantinople). This visit was the first visit in 400 years of a Patriarch of Constantinople to the Church of Russia. The last such visit was by Patriarch Jeremias II (Tranos) in 1589.
He met with the leadership of the Moscow Patriarchate ; he visited several Soviet cities, including Leningrad and Lvov. Because it was at that time in the Soviet Union, he also travelled to Tbilisi, Georgia, where he visited the Church of Georgia, and Patriarch Ilia II (Ghudushauri-Shiolashvili).
Then, from 11-29 September, 1987, Patriarch Demetrios visited Bucharest, Romania ; Belgrade, Yugoslavia ; and Sofia, Bulgaria ; as well as the Orthodox Centre at Chambésy, near Geneva, Switzerland. He then visited Greece on 13 November.
Patriarch Demetrios was very much concerned about the support and the development of Orthodox Christian monastic life. Therefore, he managed to visit some monasteries in order to give encouragement through his visible presence.
In 1987, he visited the Monastery of the Great-Virgin-Martyr Catherine at Mount Sinai (by that time a part of the territory of the United Arab Republic/Egypt).
Saint Catherine's Monastery, Sinai
In 1988, Patriarch Demetrios presided at the celebrations for the 900th anniversary of the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian on Patmos.
Saint John the Theologian Monastery, Patmos
Initial Annual Environment Day
On 1 September, 1989, Patriarch Demetrios designated 1 September as "Environment Day" (the Pope of Rome did this in 2015). This designation was declared in a patriarchal encyclical, in which he invited
the entire Christian world to offer together with the Mother Church of Christ, the Ecumenical Patriarchate, every year on this date prayers and supplications to the Maker of all, both as thanksgiving for the great gift of creation and as petitions for its protection and salvation. [...] At the same time we paternally urge, on the one hand, the Faithful in the world to admonish themselves and their children to respect and protect the natural environment and, on the other hand, those who are entrusted with the responsibility of governing the nations to act without delay, taking all necessary measures for the protection and preservation of natural creation.
According to a statement by the World Council of Churches (WCC), their own annual focus on care for creation “arose directly from the Ecumenical Patriarch’s 1989 encyclical”.
On 1 September, 1989, 16 Saints were added to List of Saints of the Orthodox Christian Church.
In 1990, the Church of Constantinople recognised officially the Church of Georgia as being a patriarchate. (However, the Church of Antioch had done so in the 7th century, although it took until the 11th century to be finalised, and it had been suppressed for a time by the Emperor of Russia.)
In 1990, Patriarch Demetrius presided at the 600th anniversary of the Holy Trinity Monastery of Megalo (Great) Meteora (near Kalabaka, Thessaly, Greece).
Regularisation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, 1990
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (formed in Canada in 1918) had, since its beginning lacked recognition from the canonical autocephalous Orthodox Churches of the world, and in particular from the Patriarchate of Constantinople. Efforts began on their part during the 1980s to rectify the situation. After many conversations with the Patriarchate of Constantinople, on 1 April, 1990, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (UOCC) was officially received into the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.
According to the agreement with Constantinople, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada retained its distinctive internal structure and organisation. The Primate (as well as other candidates for the episcopate) must be approved by the Ecumenical Patriarchate before episcopal ordination, and the church receives its Holy Myrrh from Constantinople.
Another visit to Mount Athos, 1990
In 1990, Patriarch Demetrios travelled to visit the Monastic State of Mount Athos, and then to the Meteora Monasteries on the occasion of the celebration of the 600th anniversary of the Great Meteora Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Lord.
Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Great Meteora, Greece
Visit to the USA, 1990
In June-July, 1990, Patriarch Demetrios became the first Patriarch of Constantinople to visit the Western Hemisphere when he presided over the Congress of Church and Secular Leaders in Washington. There, he was received by President George W Bush on 8 July, 1990. Patriarch Demetrius called for the unity of divided Orthodox Christian administrations in the USA. His 27-day visit included visits to 8 cities as he visited the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America.
Visits to the Vatican, Switzerland, England
Patriarch Demetrios visited Pope John Paul II at the Vatican and took part in meetings with the World Council of Churches in Geneva, and with the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury, R Runcie, in London, England.
During several months of 1991, the general health of Patriarch Demetrios weakened (in association with the diabetes which afflicted him). Despite the deterioration, the physicians saw no indications that his condition was dangerous. Patriarch Demetrios continued as always to fulfil his responsibilities.
On Monday, 30 September, 1991, he was rushed to the American "Admiral Bristol " Hospital in Istanbul, after an acute myocardial infarction, and he was admitted to the intensive care unit.
Repose, 1991
In the evening of 2 October, 1991, after he had suffered another infarction followed by shock, Patriarch Demetrios I (Papadopoulos) fell asleep in the Lord.
On Tuesday, 8 October, 1991, the Funeral Services for the Burial of a Hierarch were chanted in the Cathedral Church of Saint George in the Phanar, Constantinople/Istanbul. The services were led by Metropolitan Bartholomew (Archontonis) of Chalcedon.
After the conclusion of the funeral service, the body of Patriarch Demetrios I (Papadopoulos) was entombed amongst those of other patriarchs (those since 1841) at the Life-giving Spring Monastery (“Zoodochos Pigi” in Greek, or “Balukli” in Turkish).
Tomb of Patriarch Demetrios (Papadopoulos)
— Bishop of Eleia 1964-1972. Preceded by : ____. Succeeded by : Archbishop Athenagoras (Kokkinakis).
— Vicar-Bishop of the Patriarchate of Constantinople 1964-1972.
— Metropolitan of Imbros and Tenedos 1972. Preceded by : ____. Succeeded by : Metropolitan Photios (Savvaides).
— Patriarch of Constantinople 1973-1991. Preceded by : Patriarch Athenagoras (Spyrou). Succeeded by : Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis).
— Co-Head-of-State of Mount Athos 1975-1991. Title created. Succeeded by : Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis).
Reflections
Patriarch Athenagoras I was the 269th successor to the Holy Apostle Andrew, and Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, from 1972 to 1991.
Patriarch Demetrios had said about himself :
I do not want history to write about me when I die. Nor should people remember me. All I want is for the Phanar to live, in order to enliven the sleepless consciousness of the Nation.
During his service as patriarch, he worked for the unity of the Orthodox Christian Church. He received the visits of the Primates of all the Orthodox Churches, and he convened 3 Pre-Synod Pan-Orthodox Conferences in preparation for the expected Holy and Great Synod of the Orthodox Church. When he visited the Church of Russia, this visit was the first such visit that was possible after 400 years (mostly because of political difficulties during those centuries). The last patriarchal visit had been that of Patriarch Jeremiah II (Tranos) in 1589.
While he kept a low profile at home (and while he stayed away from Greek-Turkish political disputes), Patriarch Demetrios travelled widely abroad to meet the Orthodox Faithful and to promote unity amongst Christians in general.
In an 8-city tour of the USA in 1990, Patriarch Demetrios met with the American president, Mr. G W Bush, with Christian and Jewish leaders, and with public officials. He spread the message that : "Today, Orthodoxy is not a strange or alien factor in America. It is flesh of its flesh and bone of its bone".
It is significant that while he was visiting the USA, Patriarch Demetrius called for the unity of divided Orthodox churches there. Following the Russian Revolution in 1917, the one Church has been divided into various national diocesan administrations, instead of one, visibly single Orthodox Church. It was not the first time that the importance of such visible unity had been spoken about, but that the Patriarch of Constantinople made this exhortation added gravity to the matter. This was the first-ever visit of a Patriarch of Constantinople to North America.
The patriarch took care to build a good atmosphere in the relations between the patriarchate and the Turkish authorities. This was helped by his mild and moderate character. He gave particular priority to the protection of the environment.
References
Encyclopaedia Britannica biography
Orthodox Encyclopaedia biography
Additional information :
Chalkiadakis, E, “Ecumenical Patriarch Demetrios”
Hadjifotis, I, “Ecumenical Patriarch Demetrios in Greece (13-18 November, 1987)” (Athens, 1988).
(Karas), Metropolitan Meliton, “The Holy Journey of Love, Peace and Unity of Ecumenical Patriarch Demetrios” 3 vols. (Thessaloniki, 2013).
Lekkos, E, “Patriarch Demetrios I at Viola, Trikala, Meteora” (Athens, 1992).
Stavridis, B, “The Ecumenical Patriarch Demetrios (Papadopoulos) : 1972-1991” (Thessaloniki, 2001).
Stefanopoulos, N, ed., Dimitrios in the USA : A Pictorial History of the First Visit to the United States of America by His All Holiness Dimitrios Ecumenical Patriarch (New York, 1991).
Video : Enthronement of Patriarch Demetrios
Video : Visit of Archbishop D Coggan of Canterbury to the Phanar, 1977
2010 Romfea.gr article (in Greek)
Lambeth Palace Library documents related to the Archbishops of Canterbury and Patriarch Demetrios
Patriarch Athenagoras (Spyrou)
Patriarch Bartholonew (Archontonis)
Patriarch Ilia II (Ghudushauri-Shiolashvili)
Titular Bishop Philotheos (Stavridis)
Ecumenical Orthodox Church of Constantinople, Istanbul, Turkey
Patriarchal Cathedral of Saint George
Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
Patriarch Demetrios I : Official Visit to Rome to Pope Jean Paul II (1987)
“Orthodox Patriarch continues busy United States Tour” (1990)
“Joint Declaration Of Pope Jean Paul II and Patriarch Demetrios I” (7 December, 1987)
“Visits of Ecumenical Patriarchs to Rome and Popes to the Ecumenical Patriarchate”
‘Visit to the Russian Orthodox Church and to Georgia by Ecumenical Patriarch Demetrios I : 18-26 & 29-30, August, 1987’ in “Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate”, no. 12 (1987), pp. 11-22.
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