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Demetrios Papadopoulos was born in [[Constantinople]] on [[September 8]], 1914. His early education was at the Greek Schools in Therapia. He continued his studies at the [[Theological School of Halki]] from 1931 to 1937, He was [[ordination|ordained]] a [[deacon]] following his graduation on Palm Sunday, [[April 25]], 1937. From October 1937 to August 1938, he served as the diocese Secretary and Preacher of the Holy Metropolis of Edessa. Between May 1939 and June 1945 he served as deacon and [[priest]] in Ferikioi (Φε??ίκιοϊ). He was ordained to the priesthood on [[March 29]], 1942 and continued serving the Ferikioy Church for another three years. He then served as the pastor of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Tehran, Iran from 1945 to 1950. During this time, with the honorary approval of the Shah, he taught Ancient Greek at the University of Tehran for one year. After his stint in Tehran, he returned to Ferikioi to serve as Head of Community from 1950 to 1964.
On [[July 23]], 1964 he was elected [[Titular bishop]] of [[Elaia]] (Ελαίας) by the Holy [[Synod]] of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. On [[August 9]] he was consecrated [[bishop]]. He served as Hierarchal Vicar and Patriarchal Overseer of the parishes in Ferikioy, Haskioy, and the Annunciation Church (Α??χιε??ατικός) of Tataoula (Ταταο??λων). He remained there until he was elected [[Metropolitan]] of [[Imvros and Tenedos]] on [[February 15]], 1972. Shortly thereafter and following the death of [[Athenagoras I (Spyrou) of Constantinople|Patriarch Athenagoros I]], he was elected by the Holy Synod of the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate]] as Archbishop of Constantinople, [[New Rome]], and Ecumenical Patriarch on [[July 16]] of that year. He was enthroned on [[July 18]], 1972 at the Patriarchal [[Cathedral Church of St George (Istanbul)|Church of St. George]] in the [[Phanar]] district of Istanbul.
He called the first of three Panorthodox Meetings for the preparation of the Panorthodox Synod at the Orthodox Center of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Chambesy, Switzerland.
He accepted at the Ecumenical Patriarchate two Archbishops of Canterbury, and on [[November 30]], 1979, [[Pope ]] [[John Paul II]] with whom he proclaimed the establishment of the official theological dialogue between the Orthodox and the Roman Catholic Church.
In 1987, he travelled to Rome where he was received by [[Pope]] John Paul II. At a solemn ceremony in St. Peter's Basilica, the Patriarchs of East and West together recited, in Greek, the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]] of the Church as originally expressed without the [[filioque]].
He died in Constantinople on [[October 2]], 1991, and his successor, [[Bartholomew I (Archontonis) of Constantinople|Bartholomew I]] was elected 20 days later.