The successor to the late Patriarch Athenagoras I, His Holiness Dimitrios I, was enthroned on July 18,1972, at the Patriarchal Church of St. George.

Ordained to the priesthood in 1942, he established a reputation for delivering challenging sermons and teaching religious courses in the parochial schools.

He was pastor of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Teheran, Iran, from 1945 to 1950.
He was recalled to Constantinople to serve as pastor of the Ferikioy Church until his election to the title of Titular Bishop in 1964. He was consecrated to the
Episcopate on August 9 of that year.

On Sunday, July 16, 1972, the Bishop was elected by the Holy Synod to succeed the late Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras I.

He is the spiritual leader of some 250 million Orthodox Christians throughout the world.

While he is continuing the ecumenical programs of his predecessor, Patriarch Dimitrios is working to heal the division between the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches.