Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople. A native of Greece, Aristocles Spyrou was the son of a doctor who was tonsured an Orthodox monk by the name Athenagoras for the Greek Orthodox Church upon finishing his studies in Turkey. Elected Metropolitan of Corfu while still a deacon in 1922, eight years later he was named Archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America. During his episcopate, he sought harmony between his numerous communities, opened the Holy Cross School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts, and consecrateed the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New York City. Elected the 268th Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople on November 1, 1948, he was flown to Turkey to take possession of his new office on board President Harry S. Truman's plane. During his tenure, Athenagoras was actively involved with the World Council of Churches, making history through his ecumenical efforts along with Pope Paul VI, leading together to the mutual lifting of the Bulls of Excommunication that led to the Great Schism back in the year 1054. Hospitalized following a broken hip, he died within a few days of kidney failure.
Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople. A native of Greece, Aristocles Spyrou was the son of a doctor who was tonsured an Orthodox monk by the name Athenagoras for the Greek Orthodox Church upon finishing his studies in Turkey. Elected Metropolitan of Corfu while still a deacon in 1922, eight years later he was named Archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America. During his episcopate, he sought harmony between his numerous communities, opened the Holy Cross School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts, and consecrateed the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New York City. Elected the 268th Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople on November 1, 1948, he was flown to Turkey to take possession of his new office on board President Harry S. Truman's plane. During his tenure, Athenagoras was actively involved with the World Council of Churches, making history through his ecumenical efforts along with Pope Paul VI, leading together to the mutual lifting of the Bulls of Excommunication that led to the Great Schism back in the year 1054. Hospitalized following a broken hip, he died within a few days of kidney failure.
Bio by: Eman Bonnici
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