Benjamin I (Greek: Βενιαμίν Αʹ, 18 January 1871 – 17 February 1946) was Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from 1936 to 1946.

Benjamin I of Constantinople
266th Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople
ChurchChurch of Constantinople
In office18 January 1936 – 17 February 1946
PredecessorPhotius II of Constantinople
SuccessorMaximus V of Constantinople
Personal details
Born
Benjamin Psomas
(Veniamin Psomas)

(1871-01-18)18 January 1871
Died17 February 1946(1946-02-17) (aged 75)
Istanbul, Turkey

Early life

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Benjamin was born as Benjamin Psomas on 18 January 1871, in Edremit, Ottoman Empire.[1] From 1889 to 1896, he studied at the Halki seminary.[2]

Career

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In 1912, he was appointed as the Metropolitan of Rhodes, in 1914, he was appointed as the Metropolitan of Silybria, and was later moved to the Metropolis of Philippopolis, but was unable to perform his duties due to the outbreak of World War I.[2]

On 18 January 1936, the Holy Synod voted to elevated Benjamin from Metropolitan bishop to Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople following the death of Photius II.[3]

 
Patriarch of Istanbul being visited by Finnish author Göran Schildt (photographer) and Italian designer Roberto Sambonet in 1945.

Benjamin died in Istanbul on 17 February 1946, after suffering from bronchitis and was succeeded by Maximus V.[4] At the 1946 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America national convention, two minutes of silence were given in honor of Benjamin and a delegate from Pope Pius XII attended his funeral.[5][6]

References

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  1. ^ "Veniamis I, patriarch of Constantinople".
  2. ^ a b "Βενιαμίν Αʹ". Archived from the original on April 22, 2020.
  3. ^ "266th Patriarch". Detroit Free Press. 19 January 1936. p. 8. Archived from the original on April 22, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Patriarch Benjamin Dies". The Philadelphia Inquirer. 19 February 1946. p. 9. Archived from the original on April 22, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Greek Orthodox Archbishop Lets Delegates Smoke". The Boston Globe. 4 November 1946. p. 21. Archived from the original on April 22, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Maximos Elevated To Patriarch". The Bee. 22 February 1946. p. 8. Archived from the original on April 22, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
Eastern Orthodox Church titles
Preceded by Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople
1936–1946
Succeeded by