Joachim (Phoropoulos) of Pelagonia

Metropolitan Joachim (Phoropoulos) of Pelagonia.

His Eminence Joachim (Phoropoulos), Metropolitan of Pelagonia ((Greek)

Ιωακείμ Φορόπουλος, (Bulgarian)

Йоаким Форопулос), b.1859 - 1909, was one of the most learned of the Constantinopolitan hierarchs of his time and a member of the Holy Synod of Constantinople.

Life

Bishop Joachim was born in 1859 on Chios.

Note to Ion Dragoumis, 1905.

Following graduation from the Patriarchal Theological School of Halki, he was sent for advanced studies to Europe, studying for two years at Oxford and four years in Germany, where he received his doctorate in theology and philosophy. That Phoropoulos went to Oxford was unusual for his time. Most clergymen of the Ecumenical Patriarchate did their advanced studies then in Russian Theological Academies or German Universities. He was one of the few members of the hierarchy who had a knowledge of the English language.

On October 29, 1903, the Bulgarian revolutionary Nahum Petrov, an activist of the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (IMRO), unsuccessfully tried to assassinate Bishop Joachim of Pelagonia.

Baptism and Ordination of Fr. Raphael Morgan

In 1907 Patriarch Joachim III referred the matter of the Baptism and Ordination of Robert Josias Morgan (Fr. Raphael Morgan) to Metropolitan Joachim for his report. Robert Morgan had been sent from America with two documents of support from the Greek Orthodox Community of Philadelphia, recommending that he be baptized and ordained into the priesthood. Metropolitan Joachim examined Robert, noting that he had a "deep knowledge of the teachings of the Orthodox Church", and that he also had a certificate from the President of the Methodist Community, duly notarized, stating that he was a man "of high calling and of a religious life". Metropolitan Joachim recommended that, according to the Biblical exhortation "...the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out" (John 6:37), that Robert be received. In early August 1907 before some 3000 people, Metropolitan Joachim officiated at Robert's baptism, who received the name "Raphael". Subsequently on August 12 he ordained Fr. Raphael to the diaconate, and on August 15, 1907, the feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos, to the priesthood.

Succession box: Joachim (Phoropoulos) of Pelagonia
Preceded by: Leontios (Eleutheriadis)	Metropolitan of Melenik 1901-1903	Succeeded by: Irenaios (Pantoleontos)
Preceded by: Ambrosios (Stavrianos)	Metropolitan of Pelagonia 1903-1909	Succeeded by: Basil (Georgiadis)

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See also

• Raphael Morgan.

Wikipedia

• (Bulgarian)

Йоаким Форопулос. Bulgarian Wikipedia.

• (Bulgarian)

Мелнишка епархия. Bulgarian Wikipedia.

• (Bulgarian)

Преспанско-пелагонийска епархия. Bulgarian Wikipedia.

Sources

• Manolis, Paul G. Raphael (Robert) Morgan: The First Black Orthodox Priest in America. Theologia: Epistēmonikon Periodikon Ekdidomenon Kata Trimēnian. (En Athenais: Vraveion Akadēmias Athēnōn), 1981, vol.52, no.3, pp.464-480. ISSN: 1105-154X