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People
Greek War Of Independence (1821-1829)
Grigorios V (1746-1821)
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Grigorios V {Γρηγόριος Ε'} (1746-1821). Ecumenical Patriarch at Constantinople {Konstandinoupolis ~ Κωνσταντινούπολις}. Born in Dimitsana {Δημητσάνα}, his secular name was Georgios Angkelopoulos {Γεώργιος Αγγελόπουλος}. His first studies were at a school in his home town and he then went on to study in Athens [Place Names]. From there he went to his uncle in Smyrna {Zmirni ~ Σμύρνη} where he worked while also studying at Smyrna Evangkeliki {Ευαγγελική} School. Then he went to Patmos {Πάτμος} where he took monastic vows. He returned to Smyrna in 1775 and was ordained Deacon.
In 1785 he succeeded the Greek Orthodox Eparch {Mitropolitis ~ Μητροπολίτης} in Smyrna, Prokopios {Προκόπιος}, because Prokopios was elected to Patriarch at Constantinople. He was in Smyrna when his country suffered the repercussions of the unsuccessful Orlov uprising of 1770 and the terrible massacre at Smyrna (known as the Smyrna rebellion) in 1797 [Asia Minor Campaign; 1922]. That same year he was elected Patriarch at Constantinople.
From the moment he ascended the Patriarchal Throne he showed an interest in the Education of the Nation, founding schools and printing offices, and publishing books. He took action as Patriarch three times: on April 19th, 1797, December 17th, 1818, and April 10th, 1821, when he died a martyr's death.
He became a member of the Society Of Friends [The Society] in 1818. However, on March 23rd, 1821, he was obliged to excommunicate Aleksandros Ipsilandis [People] and Mihail Soutsos {Μιχαήλ Σούτσος}, who had been organising the rebellion in the Danube Principalities (Hegemonies). He had to do so to save the Greek population of Constantinople from Ottoman vengeance.
When the War of Independence broke out in the Peloponnese {Peloponnisos ~ Πελοπόννησος}, Sultan Mahmud II (1785-1839) started a huge persecution campaign. Dozens of the Nation's eminent figures were hanged or beheaded.
Among those arrested was the Patriarch himself, who was beaten most cruelly and then, on April 10th, 1821, Easter Sunday, he was hanged on the main central gate of the Patriarchal Palace. This gate has remained closed ever since.
His sacred remains hung there for three days. After three days the Ottoman Authorities gave the body to the Ottoman mob who dragged it through the streets of Fanari {Φανάρι} and eventually threw it into the sea, first having tied a huge boulder to it to make it sink. Other sources say that the body was given to the Jews but both agree on the final outcome.
Some days later Captain I. Sklavos {I. Σκλάβος} recovered the body and took it to Odessa where it was buried with great honours. In 1871 his remains were taken to Athens and placed in a splendid memorial in the Athens Cathedral.
Grigorios
was canonized by the Orthodox Church in 1921 and his statue now stands at the entrance to
the University of Athens 
.
Grigorios V (1746-1821)
04-23-2004