Photius II (Maniatis) of Constantinople
His Holiness Patriarch Photius II (Greek: Φώτιος Β΄ ) (1874 - December 29, 1936), born Dimitrios Maniatis, or Demetrios Maniates (Δημήτριος Μανιάτης), was the 265th Successor to the Apostle Andrew and Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from 1929 to 1936.
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 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 Protosyngellos. 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 enthroned on the same day.
During his Patriarchate, relations were restored between Greece and Turkey (after the 1919-23 Greco-Turkish War), a great deal due to the efforts of Venizelos and Ataturk. Photius looked to end the problems that had prevailed in the Church of America for many years, by appointing Athenagoras (a future patriarch) as Archbishop of America.
Patriarch Photius died on December 29, 1935.
| Photius II (Maniatis) of Constantinople | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by: ? |
Bishop of Irenopolis Vicar 1915-1924 |
Succeeded by: ? |
| Preceded by: ? |
Metropolitan of Philadelphia 1924-1925 |
Succeeded by: ? |
| Preceded by: ? |
Metropolitan of Derkon 1925-1929 |
Succeeded by: ? |
| Preceded by: Basil III |
Patriarch of Constantinople 1929-1935 |
Succeeded by: Benjamin I |