Constantine VI of Constantinople

His All-Holiness Constantine VI was the Patriarch of Constantinople from December 17, 1924 until January 30, 1925, for only 43 days, having been exiled by the Turkish government.

Patriarch Constantine was born in 1859, with the surname of Arapoglou, in the village of Sigi, Proussa (Bursa). He attended the Theological School of Halki, graduating in 1885. After graduation he was ordained a deacon and served under Metropolitan Nathanael of Proussa. In 1896, he was consecrated Bishop of Saranta Ekklisies in Eastern Thrace.

During the following decades, Bp. Constantine was appointed to a succession of sees: in 1899 as Metropolitan of Trabzon (Trapezounta); in 1913 as Metropolitan of Cyzicus; and, in 1922 as Metropolitan of Proussa. In view of the defeat of the Greek army in the Greco-Turkish War in Asia Minor in 1922, Metr. Constantine was not enthroned to the see of Proussa.

After the death of Patr. Gregory VII in 1924, Metr. Constantine became the locum tenens, pending the election of a new patriarch. On December 17, 1924, Metr. Constantine was elected Patriarch of Constantinople. Turkish republican government, however, objected to Metr. Constantine's election as patriarch on the basis that he was not eligible for the patriarchal throne because he was not a native of Constantinople, having been born in Asia Minor and had not come to Constantinople until after October 30, 1918, as defined in Article 2 of the Convention Concerning the Exchange of Greek and Turkish Populations signed at Lausanne on January 30, 1923.

Within a month on January 30, 1925, the Turkish republican government ordered him into exile from Turkey. His attempts to return to Constantinople were rebuffed by the government resulting in his submitting a resignation as patriarch on May 22, 1925.

During the following years Patr. Constantine spent his time in Greece assisting the Greek refugees from Asia Minor to adjust to their new lives in Greece. Patr. Constantine reposed on November 28, 1930.

Succession box: Constantine VI of Constantinople
Preceded by: ?	Bishop of Saranta Ekklisies 1896-1899	Succeeded by: ?
Preceded by: ?	Metropolitan of Vella and Konitsa 1899-1906	Succeeded by: Spyridon (Vlachos)
Preceded by: ?	Metropolitan of Trabzon 1906-1913	Succeeded by: ?
Preceded by: ?	Metroplitan of Cyzicus 1913-1922	Succeeded by: ?
Preceded by: ?	Metropolitan of Proussa 1922-1924	Succeeded by: ?
Preceded by: Gregory VII	Patriarch of Constantinople 1924-1925	Succeeded by: Basil III

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Sources

• Phantis: Constantine VI of Constantinople
• Wikipedia: Patriarch Constantine VI of Constantinople
• Ecumenical Patriarchate Under the Turkish Republic