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He was born in Pringipo in 1874, finishing his basic education there before going to the German-Swiss school of Galata and finally to the Zaripheo High School in Philippopolis. He studied theology at the University of Athens and Philosophy at the University of Munich. He spoke fluent Greek, Turkish, French, German, and Bulgarian.
In 1902 he was [[ordination|ordained]] [[deacon]] by his uncle, [[Metropolitan]] [[Photius of Philippopolis]], who also gave him his name. He remained in the Metropolis, where he reached the diocesan rank of [[ProtosingelosProtosyngellos]]. He was appointed the Patriarchal [[Exarch]] to Philippopolis from 1906-1914, at which point the patriarchate [[clergy]] were expelled from Bulgaria and Rumelia at the onset of World War I.
In 1915, he was elected assistant [[bishop]] of Irenopolis as assistant to his uncle, who had since been transferred to the Metropolis of Kozanis. He was elected [[Metropolitan of Philadelphia]] in 1924, and a year later he was transferred to the [[Metropolis of Derkon]]. On [[October 7]], 1929 he was elected [[Ecumenical Patriarch]] and [[enthronement|enthroned]] on the same day.
