Meletius IV (Greek: Μελέτιος Μεταξάκης) was the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from 1921 to 1923.[1] He also served as Greek Patriarch of Alexandria under the episcopal name Meletius II from 1926 to 1935.[2] He was the only Eastern Orthodox hierarch in history to serve successively as the senior bishop of three autocephalous churches (before his election to the Ecumenical Patriarchate he had briefly headed the Church of Greece in Athens).
A known supporter of Greek Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos, he served as Bishop in Cyprus, until he was elected Archbishop of Athens following the abdication of Constantine I of Greece, 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 Hellenic Army in the Greco-Turkish War.
Some years later he was elected Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria. He died in 1935.
| Orthodox Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Theocletus I |
Metropolitan of Athens and All Greece as Meletius III 1918–1920 |
Succeeded by Theocletus I |
| Vacant
Title last held by
Germanus V |
Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople as Meletius IV 1921–1923 |
Succeeded by Gregory VII |
| Preceded by Photius |
Greek Patriarch of Alexandria as Meletius II 1926–1935 |
Succeeded by Nicholas V |
|
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