View source for Constantine VI of Constantinople

His All-Holiness '''Constantine VI''' was the Patriarch of Constantinople from [[December 17]], 1924 until [[January 30]], 1925, for only 43 days, having been exiled by the Turkish government.

Patriarch Constantine was born in 1859, with the surname of Arapoglou, in the village of Sigi, Proussa (Bursa). He attended the [[Theological School of Halki]], graduating in 1885. After graduation he was [[ordination|ordained]] a [[deacon]] and served under [[Metropolitan]] Nathanael of Proussa. In 1896, he was [[consecration of a bishop|consecrated]] Bishop of Saranta Ekklisies in Eastern Thrace. 

During the following decades, Bp. Constantine was appointed to a succession of [[see]]s: in 1899 as Metropolitan of Trabzon (Trapezounta); in 1913 as Metropolitan of Cyzicus; and, in 1922 as Metropolitan of Proussa. In view of the defeat of the Greek army in the Greco-Turkish War in Asia Minor in 1922, Metr. Constantine was not enthroned to the see of Proussa.

After the death of Patr. Gregory VII in 1924, Metr. Constantine became the [[locum tenens]], pending the election of a new [[patriarch]]. On [[December 17]], 1924, Metr. Constantine was elected Patriarch of Constantinople. Turkish republican government, however, objected to Metr. Constantine's election as patriarch on the basis that he was not eligible for the patriarchal throne because he was not a native of Constantinople, having been born in Asia Minor and had not come to Constantinople until after [[October 30]], 1918, as defined in Article 2 of the ''Convention Concerning the Exchange of Greek and Turkish Populations'' signed at Lausanne on [[January 30]], 1923.

Within a month on [[January 30]], 1925, the Turkish republican government ordered him into exile from Turkey. His attempts to return to Constantinople were rebuffed by the government resulting in his submitting a resignation as patriarch on [[May 22]], 1925. 

During the following years Patr. Constantine spent his time in Greece assisting the Greek refugees from Asia Minor to adjust to their new lives in Greece. Patr. Constantine reposed on [[November 28]], 1930. 

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{{succession|
before=?|
title=Bishop of Saranta Ekklisies|
years= 1896-1899|
after=?}}

{{succession|
before=?|
title=Metropolitan of Vella and Konitsa|
years=1899-1906|
after=[[Spyridon (Vlachos) of Athens|Spyridon (Vlachos)]]}}

{{succession|
before=?|
title=Metropolitan of Trabzon|
years=1906-1913|
after=?}}

{{succession|
before=?|
title=Metroplitan of Cyzicus|
years=1913-1922|
after=?}}

{{succession|
before=?|
title=Metropolitan of Proussa|
years=1922-1924|
after=?}}

{{succession|
before=[[Gregory VII of Constantinople|Gregory VII]]|
title=[[List of Patriarchs of Constantinople|Patriarch of Constantinople]]|
years=1924-1925|
after=[[Basil III (Georgiadis) of Constantinople|Basil III]]}}

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==Sources==
*[http://wiki.phantis.com/index.php/Patriarch_Constantine_VI_of_Constantinople Phantis: Constantine VI of Constantinople]
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriarch_Constantine_VI_of_Constantinople  Wikipedia: Patriarch Constantine VI of Constantinople]
*[http://www.orthodoxchristianity.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=40:ecumenical-patriarchate-under-the-turkish-republic&catid=14:articles&Itemid=2 Ecumenical Patriarchate Under the Turkish Republic]

[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:19th-20th-century bishops]]
[[Category:Patriarchs of Constantinople]]
[[Category: Theological School of Halki Graduates]]