The Washington herald., 1922-02-13
Melitios Metaxakis.

II
ested in the election of a Patriarch OF Con-
stantnople The interest," this time, is due to the
fact that the recipient of the greatest honor in the
Greek Orthodox Church happened to be in the
United States at the time of his election. But
scarcely had the announcement of the election OF
the Most Rev. Melitios Metsxakis been made when
dispatches from Greece told of difficulties. The
Greek government dspeased, it seems, and was
reported refusing to recognize the validity of the
election Ever since that time notices of trouble
have been coming. 1t may be interesting to trace
briefly the chronology of the news about the new
Patriarch:
December o-The Holy Synod in CONSTANT
nople elects Melitios Metaxaks Patriarch of Con-
stannople
December I4-The Greek government decides
to ignore the election of Metos Metaxakis as Pa
triarch, claiming his election illegal. 1t is stated
he will be asked to appear before the Greek Church
synod in Athens to answer charges of illegally
cupying the throne and thereby provoking schsm
among the Greeks in the United States
December I4-The Turkish government not-
fes the allies that Archbishop Metaxaks was in
eligible for the office of Patriarch and that the le
gality of his election will not be recognized.
December 17-Archbishop Metaxakis is recog-
nized in his office of Patriarch at a great
monial in the Russian Orthodox Cathedral Of
Saint Nicholas in New York City. Prominent
Episcopal clergymen present guests and a
sermon is preached by Bishop Darlington, OF Har-
risburg, Pa.
December I8-A dispatch from Athens states
that the Holy Synod in Constantinople has notified
Archbishop Metaxakis that his election illegal
and has suggested his resignation. Archbishop
Metaxakis denies receiving any such message.
Dc rnbcr 1S-Archbishop Metaxakis takes part
in scrNccs in the Episcopalian Cathedral of St.
John the Divine in New York City, the h4st occa-
sion of the sort in history.
December 2o-Archbishop Metaxaks calls on
President Harding at Washington.
December 23-The Clergy Club. OF New York
City, entertains Archbishop Metaxakis at a lunch
con at the Hotel Astor and unanimously recon-
mcnded that the freedom OF the city of New York
be conferred upon him by New York officials
December 3r-Archbishop Metaxakis leaves for
England where he expects to spend short time.
Upon his departure he expresses great love for
America.
January IA dispatch from Athens says that
an ecclesiastical court presided by the Metro
politan of Athens has found Archbishop Metaxakis
guilty of attempting to bring about a schsm in
the church and has ordered that he be deprived of
every rank and be secluded as monk at Zante.
January 13-A dispatch from Athens states that
the Greek government intends to ask the allies for
the extradition of Archbishop Metaxakis if he re-
ian ecclesiastical court.
January 2s-A dispatch from Athens states the
Greek government has decided not to ratify the
recent sentence of Archbishop Metaxakis and may
ask a second trial
February S-A dispatch from Athens states that
Archbishop Metaxakis is deposed from his rank
under royal decree published in the official gazette.
February o-ArchbisSop Metaxakis is enthroned
Constantinople representatives of the Sultan and
of allied and neutral countries failing to attend the
ceremony as has been customary, with the excep-
ton of the Serbian minister who was present.
Thus the matter stands. The opposition Of
the Greek government has caused the new Patri-
arch to take office under difficulties. Underneath
the attitude of the Greek government is the fact
that Archbishop Metaxaks is favored by the Ven-
zelos faction in Greece and that favor has caused
the royal dsapproval.
1t must be said that the conduct of Archbishop
Mctaxakis while in America caused him to be
highly regarded here. Americans will follow with
interest the course of events affecting the Pa
triarch and his position. ..r