Benjamin I of Constantinople

His Holiness Benjamin I (Kiriakou) (Greek: Βενιαμίν A') (1871-1946), was the 266th Successor to the Apostle Andrew and Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from 1936 to 1946.

Early life

He was born in the village of Stypsi in Lesvos in 1871 and later studied at the Theological School of Halki. In 1912 he became Metropolitan of Rhodes, and in 1913, Metropolitan of Silyvria, and then later, Metropolitan of Philippolis. In 1921 he was elected Metropolitan of Nicea and in 1933 as Metropolitan of Iraklion.

Election controversy and patriarchate

Following the death of Patriarch Photius in 1935, his most likely successor was considered the then Metropolitan of Chalcedon, and later Patriarch, Maximus. However, the Prefect of Istanbul eliminated (as was his right) Maximus and Joachim from the election. It is believed this may have occurred as a result of a relationship between Iakovos, Metropolitan of Imbros and Tenedos, who was trying to promote his own candidacy for the Patriarchate and the Turkish Interior Minister and Deputy of Canakkale (of which Imbros and Tenedos were a dependency). However, on January 18, 1936, the Holy Synod instead elected Metropolitan Benjamin by a vote of 7 to 6. The contentious nature of the election would prove to make relations within the Patriarchate difficult. His enthronement was marred by hostile episodes.

Hitherto, patriarchal elections were announced by the City Prefect, however Patriarch Benjamin's election was announced by both the Turkish President and the Prime Minister, as well as the Minister of the Interior, who all sent congratulatory letters.

Despite the unfavorable conditions of his election and the outbreak of World War II, his reign can be characterized as having consolidated the Patriarchate during a difficult period in its history.

During his tenure a synodal tome declaring the autocephaly of the Church of Albania was issued (April 3, 1937), the Carpatho-Russian Uniates of the United States returned the Holy Orthodox Church and finally, the autocephaly of the Church of Bulgaria was recognized, healing the schism of 1872.

Also during this time, in 1941 a great fire destroyed the Patriarchal Palace in the Phanar. A new Palace was erected in 1989 by P. Aggelopoulos. Patriarch Benjamin died on February 17, 1946 after a long illness.

Also noteworthy is the fact that Patriarch Benjamin was the first patriarch to be granted formal permission to publicly wear his clerical rason by the Turkish state.

Sources

• Patriarch Benjamin I of Constantinople at Wikipedia
• Πατριάρχης Βενιαμίν at Wikipedia (Greek)
• Benjamin
• History of the Diocese Rhodes In Greek

Succession box: Benjamin I of Constantinople
Preceded by: Gerasimos	Metropolitan of Rhodes 1912 - 1913	Succeeded by: Apostolos I (Triphonos)
Preceded by: ?	Metropolitan of Silyvria 1913 - ?	Succeeded by: ?
Preceded by: ?	Metropolitan of Philippolis ? - 1921	Succeeded by: ?
Preceded by: ?	Metropolitan of Nicea 1921 - 1933	Succeeded by: ?
Preceded by: ?	Metropolitan of Iraklion 1933 - 1936	Succeeded by: ?
Preceded by: Photius II	Patriarch of Constantinople 1936-1946	Succeeded by: Maximus V

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