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[[Image:350px-Meletius-metaxakisMeletios Metaxakis.jpg|thumb|Meletius during a visit to New York in 1921 as the exiled Archbishop of Athens]] His All-Holiness '''Patriarch MeletiusIV''' (Greek: Μελέτιος Δ'), born '''Emmanuel Metaxakis''' (Greek: Εμμανουήλ Μεταξάκης), was the 261st successor to the [[Apostle Andrew]] and [[Patriarch of Constantinople|Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople]] from 1921 to 1923. Afterward, as Meletius II, he also served as [[Patriarch of Alexandria|Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa]] from 1926 to 1935. Before he became Ecumenical Patriarch, he was Archbishop of Athens from 1918 to 1920 as Meletius III.

His All-Holiness '==Early life==He was born on [[September 21]], 1871, in the village of Parsas on the island of Crete. He entered the [[Seminary of the Holy Cross]] in [[Jerusalem]] in 1889. He was [[tonsure]]d with the name ''Patriarch Meletius IV''' (Greek: Μελέτιος Δ' Μεταξάκης), born '''Emmanuel Metaxakis''' (Greek: ), and [[ordination|ordained]] a [[hierodeacon]] in 1892. He completed the theological courses at Holy Cross and was the 261st Successor assigned as secretary to the [[Apostle AndrewHoly Synod]] and in Jerusalem by Patriarch [[Patriarch Damianus of ConstantinopleJerusalem|Ecumenical Patriarch of ConstantinopleDamianus]] from 1921-1923in 1900.

He was born on September 21==Archbishop of Athens==A staunch supporter of Greek Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos, 1871 in his fortunes were linked with those of the village Venizelists. The expulsion of Parsas on the island King Constantine in 1917 allowed Meletius' installation as Archbishop of Crete. He entered Athens, but the [[Seminary 1920 electoral defeat of Venizelos allowed the Holy Cross]] in [[Jerusalem]] in 1889. He was tonsured with the name king's return and Meletius and [[ordination|ordained]] a ' [[hierodeacondeposition]] in 1892. He completed the theological courses at Holy Cross and His replacement as Archbishop was assigned as secretary to the Royalist Archbishop [[Holy Synod]] in Jerusalem by [[Damianos Theoklitos I of JerusalemAthens|Patriarch DamianosTheocletos]] in 1900, the man whom he had displaced two years previously.

Meletius was evicted from the Holy Land by Patriarch DamianosDuring his tenure as Archbishop, along with he tried to apply order to the then administrator Chrysostomos, later patchwork of independent "trustee" Greek [[Archbishop of Athensparish]] es in America by applying a 1908 for "activity against Patriarchal decree that gave episcopal oversight of the Americas to the Holy Sepulcher." Meletius Metaxakis was then elected [[Metropolitan Church of KitionGreece]] , and even visited America in 1910. In the years before the war Metropolitan Meletius began successful talks in New York with representatives summer of 1918 to survey the situation. Upon his return to Greece three months later, he appointed Bishop [[Episcopal Church Alexander (Demoglou) of Rodostolou|Alexander of AmericaRodostolou]], with as his resident American legate. Alexander was delegated the intention unenviable task of "expanding relations between initiating canonical order among the two Churchesindependent Greek parishes throughout North America."

After While Archbishop he also journeyed to England where he conducted talks concerning the union between the death of [[Joachim III of ConstantinopleAnglican Communion|Patriarch Joachim IIIAnglicans]] on June 13, 1912, Meletius was nominated as a candidate for the Patriarchal Throne in [[Constantinople]]. However, the Holy Synod decided that Meletius could not canonically be registered as a candidate. Instead, he would serve as a [[bishop]] in [[Cyprus]] until 1918 when, with the support of his political allies and acquaintances, he was uncanonically elevated to the position of Archbishop of Athens in 1918. This would be a termporary measure, for after a series of political changes he was later deprived of his seeOrthodox Church.

Metaxakis was one of Following his deposition, Meletius, like so many other political refugees, fled to the most fascinating characters United States in Orthodox church historyFebruary 1921. He was Still recognized as the only man successively to lead four autocephalous (independent) Orthodox Churches: those legitimate head of [[the Church of Cyprus|Cyprus]]Greece by his American legate, Bishop Alexander, Meletius presided over the organization of some Greek parishes in North America into a formal [[Church Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of GreeceAmerica|Greece"Greek Archdiocese"]], on [[Church of Constantinople|ConstantinopleSeptember 15]], and [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandria]]1921. On In effect, this was the first step towards the basis establishment of a 1908 decree of the [[Ecumenical Patriarch]] that the independent "trustee" Greek parishes in Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America should receive episcopal oversight from the Church of Greece, Metaxakis journeyed to America which was incorporated in the summer of 1918 to survey the situation. Three months later he returned to Greece 1921, and appointed [[Bishop Alexander of Rodostolou]] as his resident American legate. Alexander was charged with officially recognized by the unenviable task State of initiating canonical order among the independent Greek parishes throughout North AmericaNew York in 1922.

==Patriarchate==In the Greek elections another twist of 1920fate, howeverthe exiled Meletius was elected Ecumenical Patriarch two months later on [[November 27]], Venizelos 1921. He was defeated. The king returned not about to powergive up his American creation, however, and Metaxakis was deposed in one of his first acts as Archbishop of Athens. His place was taken[[patriarch]], he repealed the 1908 Tomos on December 10[[March 1]], 1920, by 1922. This effectively transferred jurisdiction of the rightful canonical candidate, Theocletosnew Greek Archdiocese from himself, who had previously been deposed as Archbishop. While Meletius was still Archbishop of Athens, he along with to himself, as Ecumenical Patriarch. His justification for this move was a group reference to Canon 28 of like-minded persons visited England where the 451 [[Council of Chalcedon]], which he conducted talks concerning the union between the Anglicans and claimed granted the Ecumenical Patriarchate jurisdiction over Orthodox ChurchChristians in all "barbarian lands. Like so many other political refugees" This was formalized on [[May 11]], Metaxakis fled to the United States (February1922, 1921). Still recognized as when Meletios declared the legitimate head Church of America as an Archdiocese and appointing the Church of Greece by his American legate, Rt. Rev. Alexander Titular [[Bishop Alexander, Metaxakis presided over the organization ]] of some Greek parishes in North America into a formal "Greek Archdiocese" on September 15Rodostolon, 1921as his Patriarchal [[Exarch]].

In yet another surprising reversal Unfortunately, the hopes of fortune, the exiled Metaxakis immigrant Greek community that their long canonical disorder in America would be settled was elected Ecumenical Patriarch only two months later not realized. The royalists in Greece rejected both the creation and subsequent separation of a "Venizelist" Archdiocese in America. Metropolitan [[Germanos (Troianos) of Monemvasia and Lacedaemonos|Germanos (November 27, 1921Troianos). Meletius]], howevera royalist partisan, was not about sent from Greece to give up his American creationchallenge Alexander for control of the new archdiocese. In one of his first acts as patriarchSpurred on by the two New York Greek language dailies, the Royalist ''Atlantis'', Metaxakis repealed and the 1908 TomosVenizelist ''National Herald'', in effect transferring jurisdiction of the new fledgling Greek Archdiocese from himself (as Archbishop of Athens) to himself rapidly disintegrated into violently opposed factions. It would remain bitterly divided for almost a decade (as the Ecumenical Patriarch1922-1931). Metaxakis justified until the move by reference to canon 28 moderating influence of the Council of Chalcedon future Patriarch [[Athenagoras I (AD 451Spyrou), which he claimed granted the Ecumenical Patriarchate jurisdiction over Orthodox Christians in all "barbarian lands." Metaxakis appointed his old friend Bishop Alexander to lead the new archdioceseof Constantinople|Athenagoras]].

== Ecumenism and Anglican outreach ==His entreaties to the [[Anglican Communion|Anglican Church]] courted controversy within Orthodoxy. On [[December 17]], 1921, the Greek Ambassador in Washington sent a message to the prefect at Thessaloniki stating that Meletius "vested, took part in an Anglican service, knelt in prayer with Anglicans, venerated their Holy Table, gave a sermon, and later blessed those present."

In effect, this was the first step towards the establishment of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America, which was incorporated in 1921, and officially recognized by the State of New York in 1922. Unfortunately, the hopes of the immigrant Greek community that their long canonical disorder in America would be settled were not realized. The royalists in Greece rejected both the creation and subsequent separation of a "Venizelist" Archdiocese in America. Metropolitan Germanos (Troianos), a royalist partisan, was sent from Greece to challenge Alexander for control of the new archdiocese. Spurred on by the two New York Greek language dailies, the royalist Atlantis, and the Venizelist National Herald, the fledgling Greek Archdiocese rapidly disintegrated into violently opposed factions. It would remain bitterly divided for almost a decade (1922-1931). When Meletius was elected Ecumenical Patriarch Meletius IV in November, 1921, one of his first official decrees on March 1st of that year was to restore the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese to the Ecumenical Patriarchate. This was formalized on May 11, 1922 when Patriarch Meletios declared the Church of America as an Archdiocese appointing the Rt. Rev. Alexander Titular Bishop of Rodostolon , as his Patriarchal Exarch. Under pressure from Meletius, the Patriarchate of Constantinople accepted the validity of Anglican orders in 1922 — —an act against which even Rome protested against. Then, in 1923, Meletius initiated the "Pan-Orthodox" Congress ([[May 10–June 10]]–[[June 8]]). On [[June 1st1]], [[clergy ]] and laymen [[lay]]men who were dissatisfied with the innovating Patriarch held a meeting which ended in an attack on the [[Phanar ]] with the goal of deposing Meletius and expelling him from Constantinople. On July 1, 1923, on the pretext of illness and the need for medical treatment, Meletius left Constantinople. On September 20, 1923, under pressure from the Greek government and through the intervention of Archbishop Chrysostomos of Athens, Meletius retired as Patriarch. Meletius Metaxakis died on July 28, 1935, and was buried in Cairo, Egypt.  --- A known supporter of Greek Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos, he served as Bishop in Cyprus, until he was elected Archbishop of Athens following King Constantine I's abdication, replacing Archbishop Theocletus I, a known Royalist. Two years later King Constantine I was restored to the throne, Archbishop Meletius was ousted, and former Archbishop Theocletus I was reinstated. In 1921 he was elected Ecumenical Patriarch. He resigned in 1923 following the defeat of the Greek Army in Asia Minor. Some years later he was elected Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria. He died in 1935. ---

*[[w:Patriarch Meletius IV of Constantinople|''Patriarch Meletius IV of Constantinople'' at Wikipedia]]*[[w: el:Μελέτιος Μεταξάκης|''Μελέτιος Μεταξάκης'' at Wikipedia (Greek)]]*[http://enwiki.wikipediaphantis.orgcom/wikiindex.php/Patriarch_Meletius_IV_of_ConstantinopleMeletius_Metaxakis ''Meletius Metaxakis'' at PhantisWiki] PhantisWiki: *[http://wikirulers.phantis.comorg/indexrelig.php/Meletios_Metaxakishtml Religious leaders]

before=?|title=Metropolitan of Kition|years=1910-1918|after=?}}{{succession|before=[[TheoclitusTheocletus I (Minopoulos) of Athens|Theocletus I]]|title=[[Church List of GreeceArchbishops of Athens|Archbishop Metropolitan of Athensand All Greece]]|

after=[[Theoclitus]]Theocletus I}}

before=creation of see|title=[[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America#Archbishops of America|Archbishop of America]]|years=1921-1921|after=[[Alexander Germanus V (DemoglouKavakopoulos)]]}}{{succession|before=[[Germanus V of ConstantinopleConstntinople|Germanus V]]|