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His Eminence, the Most Reverend Archbishop '''Michael (Konstantinides)''', (Greek: Μιχαήλ Κωνσταντινίδης), was the Primate of the [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America|Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America]] from [[December 18]], 1949 to [[July 13]], 1958. Abp. Michael succeeded Abp. [[Athenagoras I (Spyrou) of Constantinople|Athenagoras]] who had been named [[Patriarch of Constantinople]].

Born Michael Konstantinides, little is known of his early life. Michael was [[ordination|ordained]] to the [[priest]]hood in 1919 and was elected [[Metropolitan]] of Corinth in 1939. Metr. Michael was appointed in late 1949 to head the American Archdiocese to succeed Abp. Athenagoras after the first choice, Abp. Metropolitan [[Timotheos (Evangelinidis), the Metropolitan of Rhodes|Timotheos (Evangelinidis)]] (formerly of Australia and New Zealand), refused the appointment due to poor health. He died (reposing later in 1949that year).

In administering the archdiocese Abp. Michael focused his attention on the inner life and order of the Church. He urged the recitation of the [[Lord's Prayer]] and [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed|Creed]] in both Greek and English. Through an invitation by President Eisenhower, Abp. Michael offered the first Orthodox prayer at a U. S. Presidential inauguration in [[January 20]], 1957. He was particularly active in expansion of the educational activities of [[St. Basil Academy (Garrison, New York)|St Basil Academy]] in Garrison, New York.

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