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His All-Holiness '''Benjamin I''' (Greek: Βενιαμίν A') (1871-1946), was the [[List of Patriarchs of Constantinople|266th Successor]] to the [[Apostle Andrew]] and [[Church of Constantinople|Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople]] from (1936-1946).
He was born in the village of Stypsi on in [[Lesvos]] in 1871 and later studied at the [[Halki|Theological School of Halki]]. In 1912 he became [[Metropolitan of Rhodes]], and in 1913, [[Metropolitan of Σηλυβρείας]], and then later, [[Metropolitan of Philippolis]]. In 1921 he was elected [[Metropolitan of Nicaea]] and in 1933 as [[Metropolitan of Iraklion]]. Following the death of [[Photius II|Patriarch Photius]] in 1935, his most likely successor was considered the then [[Metropolitan of Chalcedon]], and later Patriarch, [[Maximus V|Maximus]]. However, the Prefect of Istanbul eliminated (as was his right) Maximus and Joachim from the election. It is believed this may have occured as a result of a relationship between the Turkish Interior Minister and Deputy of Canakkale and Iakovos, Metropolitan of Imbros and Tenedos, who tried to promote his own candidacy for the Patriarchate. However, the Holy Synod instead elected Benjamin by a vote of 7 to 6.
During his patriarchate in 1941 a great fire destroyed the [[Patriarchal Palace]] in the [[Phanar]]. A new Palace was erected in 1989 by [[P. Aggelopoulos]].