Maximus V of Constantinople

Ecumenical Patriarch Maximus V (; 26 October 1897 – 1 January 1972) was the 267th Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from February 1946 until his resignation in October 1948, serving as the primus inter pares (first among equals) and spiritual leader of Easter Orthodox Christianity worldwide.

Biography He was born Maximos Vaportzis in the Ottoman Empire, at Sinop in Kastamonu Vilayet, on the Black Sea coast. He was first educated, under the protection of metropolitan bishop Germanos Karavaggelis of Amaseia, at the Theological School of Halki, Ottoman Empire.

In 1918, he was ordained a deacon. With this appointment, he also became teacher at the city school of Theira. He served as arch-deacon under Metropolitans Gregorios of Chalcedon and Joachim of Ephesus. In 1920, he became the archdeacon to the Ecumenical Patriarchate itself.

In 1946, he became Patriarch of Constantinople. He was known for his "leftist opinions" and ties with the Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus'. He resigned in 1948, officially because of poor health; unofficially because Western powers did not approve his ties with the Soviet-controlled Patriarch of Moscow. He was succeeded by the archbishop of America, Athenagoras, and was given the title of Ephesus.

He died in Fenerbahçe on 1 January 1972.

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