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Athenagoras I (Spyrou) of Constantinople

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[[Image:AthinagorasAthenagoras_grk.jpg|thumb|Patriarch Athenagoras]] His All-Holiness '''Patriarch Athenagoras I''' (Greek: ''Αθηναγόρας Α' ''), born '''Aristokles Spyrou''' (''Αριστοκλής Σπύρου''), was the [[Image:AthenagorasIwPaulVI.jpgList of Patriarchs of Constantinople|thumb268th Successor]] to the [[Apostle Andrew]] and [[Patriarch of Constantinople|Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras I (left) with Pope Paul VIof Constantinople]]from 1948 to 1972.
'''==Early life==[[Patriarch ]] Athenagoras I''' (was born in Vasilikón, near Ioánnina, Epirus, Greece, on [[March 25]], 1886–. The son of the village doctor, his mother died when he was only 13. He attended the [[July 7Theological School of Halki|Patriarchical Theological School of Halki]], 1972) graduating in 1910. Upon graduating he was [[tonsure]]d a [[monk]] and [[ordination|ordained]] to the 268th [[Patriarch diaconate]], taking the name Athenagoras. He served as [[archdeacon]] of the [[Diocese of Pelagonia]] before becoming the secretary to [[Meletius IV (Metaxakis) of Constantinople|Archbishop Meletius of Athens]] from 1948 (and future Ecumenical Patriarch) in 1919. He was raised to 1972the [[episcopate]] as the [[Metropolitan of Corfu]] in December 1922, while still a deacon.
==LifeArchbishop of America==[[Patriarch]] Athenagoras was born Aristokles Spyrou in Vasilikón, near IoánninaIn 1930, Epirus, Greece, on [[March 25]], 1886. The son Damaskinos (Papandreou) of the village doctor, his mother died when he was only 13. He attended the [[Theological School of HalkiAthens|Patriarchical Theological SchoolMetropolitan Damaskinos]], graduating in 1910. Upon graduating he was [[ordination|ordained]] after returning from a trip to the [[diaconate]] taking the name Athenagoras. He served as [[archdeacon]] of the [[Diocese Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of PelagoniaAmerica]] before becoming the secretary , recommended to Patriarch [[Archbishop]] [[Meletius IV (Metaxakis) Photius II of Constantinople|Meletius (Metaxakis)Photios II]] that Athenagoras be appointed Archbishop of Athens in 1919North and South America. He Damaskinos felt that Athenagoras was raised best suited to fix the episcopacy as many problems of the archdiocese, and Photios made the appointment on [[Metropolitan of CorfuAugust 30]] in 1922, 1930.
In 1930 When he assumed his new position on [[Metropolitan DamaskinosFebruary 24]], after returning from a trip to 1931, Athenagoras was faced with the [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese task of America]], recommened bringing unity and harmony to Patriarch [[Photius II of Constantinople|Photios II]] a diocese that Athenagoras be was racked with dissension between Royalists and Venizelists who had virtually divided the country into independent dioceses. To correct this he centralized the eccelesiastical administration in the Archdiocesean offices with all other bishops serving as auxiliaries, appointed Archbishop of America. Damaskinos felt that Athenagoras was best suited to bring harmony to assist the archdiocesearchbishop, without dioceses and Photios made the appointment on [[August 30]], 1930administrative rights of their own.
When Archbishop Athenagoras assumed During his new position on [[February 24]]18-year tenure, 1931, he was faced with the task of bringing unity and harmony to a diocese that was racked with dissension between Royalists and Venizelists who had virtually divided the country into independent dioceses. To correct this he centralized the eccelesiastical administration in the Archdiocese offices with all other bishops serving as auxiliaries, appointed to assist the archbishop, without dioceses and administrative rights of their own. He actively worked with his communities to establish harmony. He expanded facilitate these reforms, in part by expanding the work of the clergy-laity congresses and . He established the women’s [[Philoptochos]], the philanthropic arm of the Church, as well as an orphanage, [[St. Basil Academy (Garrison, New York)|St. Basil’s Academy]]. He also founded the first Greek Orthodox seminary in America, the [[Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology (Brookline, Massachusetts)|Holy Cross School of Theology]]. Through his His capable leadership he withstood allowed him to withstand the early opposition he faced and gained eventually gain the love and devotion of his peopleflock.
==Patriarchate==[[Image:AthenagorasIwPaulVI.jpg|thumb|Athenagoras I and Paul VI]]On [[November 1]], 1948, Abp. Athenagoras was elected Patriarch of [[Constantinople]]. He , and was honored to be flown to Istanbul to assume his new position in the personal airplane of the American president US President Harry Truman. As patriarch, he was actively involved with the [[World Council of Churches]] and improving relations with the Bishop of Rome[[Pope]]. He died His long reign ended with his death in Istanbul on July 7, 1972. His 1964 meeting with the Pope [[Paul VI]] in [[Jerusalem]] led to the mutual lifting of the Bulls of [[Excommunication]] that resulted in the [[Great Schism]] of 1054. This was a significant step towards restoring communion between Rome and Constantinople. It produced the [[Catholic-Orthodox Joint Declaration of 1965]], which was publicly read on [[December 7]], 1965, simultaneously at a public meeting of the [[Second Vatican Council]] in Rome and at a special ceremony in Istanbul. The declaration did not end the schism, but showed a desire for greater reconciliation between the two churches. Nevertheless, not all Orthodox shared this sentiment, including [[Philaret (Voznesensky) of New York|Metropolitan Philaret]], who wrote a response to the patriarch that same year. ==Quotations==Excerpts from [http://www.stpaulsirvine.org/html/athenagoras.htm ''Conversations with Patriarch Athenagoras'':] :"I do not deny that there are differences between the Churches, but I say that we must change our way of approaching them. And the question of method is in the first place a psychological, or rather a spiritual problem. For centuries there have been conversations between theologians, and they have done nothing except to harden their positions." :"Those who accuse me of sacrificing Orthodoxy to a b[l]ind obsession with love have a very poor conception of the truth. They make it into a system which they possess, which reassures them, when what it really is, is the living glorification of the living God, with all the risks involved in creative life. And we don’t possess God; it is He who holds us and fills us with His presence in proportion to our humility and love. Only by love can we glorify the God of love, only by giving and sharing and sacrificing oneself can one glorify the God who, to save us, sacrificed himself and went to death, the death of the cross." :"Orthodoxy, if it goes back to the sources of its great tradition, will be the humble and faithful witness to the undivided Church. The Orthodox Churches, in coming together themselves in mutual respect and love, will set a movement of brotherhood going throughout the Christian world, giving the example of a free communion of sister Churches, united by the same sacraments and the same faith. As to the Orthodox faith, centered as it is on liturgical praise and worship, and on holiness, it will bring the criterion of spiritual experience to ecumenical dialogue, a criterion which will allow us to disentangle partial truths from their limitations so that they may be reconciled in a higher plenitude of truth." :"But we Orthodox: are we worthy of Orthodoxy? Up till the efforts we have made in recent years, what kind of example have our Churches given? We are united in faith and united in the chalice, but we have become strangers to one another, sometimes rivals."
==Legacy==
His meeting with [[Pope]] Paul VI in 1964 in Jerusalem led to rescinding the 1054 [[excommunication]]s of the [[Great Schism]]. This was a significant step towards restoring communion between Rome and Constantinople. It produced the Catholic-Orthodox Joint declaration of 1965, which was read out on [[December 7]], 1965, simultaneously at a public meeting of the Second Vatican Council in Rome and at a special ceremony in Istanbul. The declaration did not end the 1054 schism, but showed a desire for greater reconciliation between the two churches, represented by Pope Paul VI and Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras I. Nevertheless, not all Orthodox leaders at the time were happy with this Catholic-Orthodox Joint declaration, e.g., Metr. [[Philaret (Voznesensky) of New York|Philaret]]'s 1965 epistle to the patriarch.
{{start box}}
{{succession|
before=?|
title=Metropolitan of Corfu|years=1922-1931|after=[[Alexander (Demoglou) of Rodostolou|Alexander (Demoglou)]]}}{{succession|before=Alexander (Demoglou)|title=[[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America#Archbishops of America|Archbishop of North and South America<br>Church of Constantinople]]|
years=1931-1948|
after=[[Michael(Konstantinides) of America|Michael (Konstantinides)]]}}
{{succession|
before=[[Maximus V of Constantinople|Maximus V]]|
title=[[List of Patriarchs of Constantinople|Patriarch of Constantinople]]|
years=1948-1972|
after=[[Demetrius I of Constantinople|Demetrios I]]}}
==External links==
*[http://www.stpaulsirvine.org/html/athenagoras.htm St. Paul's Greek Church]
*[http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/speeches/1965/documents/hf_p-vi_spe_19651207_common-declaration_en.html Catholic-Orthodox Joint declaration of 1965]
*[http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/ecumenism/philaret_lifting.aspx A Protest to Patriarch Athenagoras On the Lifting of the Anathemas of 1054] by Metr. Philaret of New York (December 2/15, 1965)
*[http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/ch_orthodox_docs/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_19671028_athenagoras-i-paul-vi_en.html Another Common Declaration of Pope Paul VI and the Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras I] dated [[October 28|28 October]] 1967
*[http://www.stpaulsirvine.org/html/athenagoras.htm Remembering Patriarch Athenagoras]
*[http://orthodoxresearchinstitute.org/resources/hierarchs/constantinople/former/john_thermon_athenagoras.htm "Patriarch Athenagoras: Prophet of Love"] by Bishop [[John (Kallos) of Amorion|John (Kallos) of Thermon ]] (Orthodox Research Institute)
[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:20th-century bishops]]
[[Category:Bishops of Corfu]]
[[Category:Patriarchs of Constantinople]]
[[Category:Theological School of Halki Graduates]]
 
[[fr:Athénagoras Ier (Spyrou) de Constantinople]]
[[ro:Atenagora I (Spirou) al Constantinopolului]]
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