San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-04-10
DIR. c. Papadopoulos Ele-
waited to Office Of Met
ropolitan With Magnifi-
cent Ceremonies Of By
zantine Times.
INV s s. PAPADAKIS.
Special Correspondent of The San Antonio
Light and the Chicago Daily News

l@lBnl anu OdAig
!. Athens, Greece, April 10.-Athens
witnessed recently one of those mag
nificent ceremonies that have come
down from the old Byzantine times
through the rituals of the Greek Or
thodox church. 1t was the day of
the conservation Of DR.. Chrysostome
Papadopoulos to the see of the met
ropolis of Athens. His election was
of paramount Importance for Greece
for numerous reasons, but first, be-
cause for the last six years the
.,church of Greece has been a play
thing in the hands of the ruling po-
litical party and DIR. Papadopoulos is
considered to be above party politics.
DIR. Papadepoulos is regarded also as
the greatest living orthodox theologian
and is one of the few men to whom
the orthodox world looks for closer
: coordination of the confederation OF
the independent orthodox churches. In
1919 he visited, studied and appre-
ciated the Christian churches of Amer
ica and stands for a closer co-opera-
ton of the orthodox churches with
them.
The conservation service was held
in the Athens Cathedral in the pres
ence of the Greek cabinet and numer-
GUS political and ecclesiastical digni-
taries. The bishop Of syria, assisted
by two other bishops, officiated and
in offering DR.. Papadopoulos the met
ropolitan crown 1.-THE metra) address
ed him as follows: "By the enlight-
enment of the holy spirit thou are con-
secrated metropolitan of this plous see
of Athens, having been voted for and
approved by the most reverend metro
politans who constitute the holy
synod of Greece Thou art now called
to glorify this holy see.'
Given Homage by People.
The congregation then cheered the
customary phrase, q Axios," or "wor-
thy" and the new metropolitan
mounted his throne and read his
speech of enforcement. Later he
s. received the congratulations of the Of
ficials and was led officially TO his
palace, where the people paraded and
kissed his hand. 4 vi
The new metropolitan is 81 years
old. His life is long series OF
. scholarly efforts toward a world
wide vision Of Christian cooperation:
He studied divinity in the theological
seminaries of Constantinople, Jerusa-
lem, Petrograd and Athens. He has
visited most of the great theological
libraries of Europe for special studies.
For fifteen years he was president OF
the orthodox Seminary Of the Cross in
Jerusalem. In 1911 he was appointed
president of the Rezarios Seminary at
Athens, which office he held until
his call to the supreme post of the
church of Greece. In 1914 he was
elected professor of general church his
tory of the University Of Athens.
Aims of the New Metropolitan.
"Mys endeavors," DR.. Papadopoulos
said in an interview / had with him,
"may be summed up under three gen.
eral headings:
Il. In regard to the church of
Greece
"a. Emancipation of the church
from state interference.
@b. Reorganization OF the ad-
ministration of the church accord
ing to the best systems among
the most developed churches OF
England and America.
&C. ModerniZation of the life of
the church to make of it not only
I a communion for worship, but
i great force that will influence
Al every phase of life's activities in
the individual and the community
"a, as a whole.
I'D. Amelioration of the pres
ent state of the Greek clergy and
an advance of its prestige.
40. In regard to the other orthodox
churches of Constantinople, Russia:
Roumania, Jugoslavia, Syria and
Egypt, to make closer the ties OF the
existing confederation, these ties hay-
ing become loose on account of the
prevailing political and war condi-
tions in the near east
"3. In regard to all other Chris
tan churches of the world l shall pur-
sue steadfastly a closer cooperation.
union in Christ's love- that will
pave the road toward a better under
standing. Let us leave aside dogmatic
differences and join hands for great
brotherhood in Christ. 1t is high time
for Christendom to show a more CO.
ordinated team play which the great
mass of Mohammedanisnl is demon
strating throughout Asia. And there
M~sinnumerable enemies. especially
after the world war, that threaten the