Athenagoras I of Constantinople

Athenagoras I was a prominent leader of the Eastern Orthodox Church in the 20th century. He served as the Archbishop of North and South America from 1930 to 1948, and as the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from 1948 to 1972. He was known for his ecumenical efforts to foster dialogue and reconciliation with other Christian churches, especially the Roman Catholic Church. He met with Pope Paul VI in Jerusalem in 1964, and they mutually lifted the excommunications of 1054 that marked the Great Schism. He also initiated contacts with the Anglican Communion, the Lutheran World Federation, the World Council of Churches, and various Protestant denominations. He was a strong advocate for human rights, social justice, and peace. He supported the independence of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus, and condemned the Turkish invasion of the island in 1974. He also denounced the Soviet persecution of the Orthodox Church and other religious minorities. He was a man of deep spirituality, humility, and vision, who sought to promote the unity of all Christians and the witness of the Orthodox faith in the modern world.