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Metropolitan '''Metropolitan Germanos of Patra''' (''Greek-''': Παλαιών Πατρών Γερμανός''', '' ''Palaion Patron Germanos'' '','' '''George Gotzias'''Georgios Ioannou Kozias, 1771-1826) was a hero of the [[w:Greek War of Independence|Greek War of Independence]] that he blessed with the proclamation of independence on [[March 25]], 1821 , at the Monastery of [[w:Agia Lavra|Agia Lavra]].

[[Image:Bishop-Germanos-1821.jpg|right|thumb|275px|Germanos proclaiming independence on [[March 25]], 1821 , at the Monastery of [[w:Agia Monastery of Holy Lavra(Kalavryta, Greece)|Agia Lavra]]. Oil painting by [[w:Theodoros Vryzakis|Theodoros Vryzakis]], 1865.]]

==Background==Like Patriarch [[w:Patriarch Gregory V of Constantinople|Patriarch Gregory V]], he was born in Dimitsana, Arcadia, on [[March 25]], 1771. His name in the world was Georgios GotziasKozias, the son of jeweller Yiannis Gotziasjeweler Ioannis Kozias. He entered received his education at the school of his native village and then at Argos, where he became a [[clergy|clergyman]], becoming a and served as [[deacon]] and of Metropolitan Iacovos. He then left for theological studies in [[w:Smyrna|Smyrna]] in 1797, where he was employed at the Bishopric by Metropolitan [[Gregory V of Constantinople|Grigorios]]. He When Grigorios became Patriarch in 1797 he took Germanos with him and promoted him to [[bishopDeacon|Archdeacon]] of Patra in 1806 and a member of the "Society of Friends" ([[w:Filiki EteriaChurch of Constantinople|Filiki EteriaPatriarchate]]), which was seeking independence for the Greek nation from the Ottoman yoke, . While in 1818Constantinople Germanos completed his studies and his general education.

On Germanos served as [[March 25Deacon|Archdeacon]](1800-1806) and then as [[Protosyngellos]] at the Metrolopis of Cyzicus, 1821, where he was serving when he blessed the fighters at was elected [[w:Agia Lavra|Agia LavraBishop]] in of [[w:AchaeaPatras|AchaeaPatrai]] and raised in 1806. Thanks to his charisma, Germanos acquired a banner special glamour as Metropolitan of warPatrai. Tradition has it that as he had no flag, he used the curtain of the Holy Place of the church as He was appointed a banner. The next day Synod member in Constantinople where he led 500 men to attack the fortifications of [[w:Patras|Patra]]stayed three years (1815-1818).

Germanos left Greece in 1822 for Italy hoping ==Proclamation of Independence==In 1818 upon returning to obtain aid and support for his see, he became a member of the war effort from the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church but returned in 1824 without having seen him. He was accosted and robbed by "Society of Friends" ([[httpw://wiki.phantis.com/index.php/Yiannis_Gouras Yiannis Gouras'Filiki Eteria|Filiki Hetairia] men the following year]), during which was seeking independence for the infighting that broke out among Greek nation from the GreeksOttoman yoke.

Bishop On [[March 13]] 1821, a Sunday, Germanos died blessed the standard during the liturgy at [[Monastery of Holy Lavra (Kalavryta, Greece)|Agia Lavra]] Monastery in [[w:NafplionAchaea|NafplioAchaea]] , and on [[May 30March 25]]1821, 1826 after a short illnessblessed the fighters at [[Monastery of Holy Lavra (Kalavryta, Greece)|Agia Lavra]] and hoisted the flag of the [[w:Greek War of Independence|Greek War of Independence]] in St. George's Square at [[w:Patras|Patrai]].

He wrote memoirs of Germanos left Greece in 1822 for Italy, in an abortive mission hoping to obtain aid and support for the war effort from the first two years of Pope and the [[w:Greek War Congress of IndependenceVerona|War of IndependenceEuropean Congress at Verona]] that are invaluable to Greek historians, but returned in 1824 without having seen him.

==SourceLater Years==* In the feuds among the Greeks he played a conciliatory role. Nevertheless he was arrested by the Government camp, on orders from [http://wiki.phantis.com/index.php/Bishop_Germanos_of_Patra Bishop Germanos of PatraYiannis_Gouras Gouras] at Phantis-Wikiand Kolettis, and sufferred greatly.

==External links==* Bishop Germanos died on the night of May 30-31, 1826, when he was a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Third National Assembly, and was buried with honours in [[w:Germanos of PatrasNafplion|Germanos of PatrasNauplion]] at Wikipedia. Later his remains were transferred to Dimitsana, his native village.