Quick Facts
Biography
Demetrios I also Dimitrios I or Demetrius I, born Demetrios Papadopoulos (September 8, 1914 – October 2, 1991) was the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from July 16, 1972, to October 2, 1991. Before his election as Patriarch he served as Metropolitan Bishop of Imvros. He was born and died in Istanbul, Turkey.
Role in ecumenism
On November 30, 1979, he proclaimed the establishment of the official theological dialogue between the Orthodox and the Roman Catholic Church, at that time led by Pope John Paul II. He also met with two different Archbishops of Canterbury representing the Anglican Communion.
In 1987, he travelled to the Vatican where he was received by John Paul II. At a solemn ceremony in St. Peter's Basilica, the Patriarchs of East and West together recited the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed of the Church in Greek as originally defined in AD 381, without the controversial Filioque clause.
| Eastern Orthodox Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Athenagoras I | Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople 1972–1991 | Succeeded by Bartholomew I |
| Regnal titles | ||
| Preceded by New office | Co-Head of State of Mount Athos 1975–1991 | Succeeded by Bartholomew I |