Bones of Greek Patriarch ‘Araboğlu’ brought to Istanbul after 86 Years

ISTANBUL – Hürriyet
4/3/2011

The bones of Patriarch Constantine the Sixth, or “Araboğlu,” who caused a crisis between Turkey and Greece in 1925, have been brought to Istanbul almost a century later with the permission of the Turkish government.

His bones will be buried alongside the remains of other patriarchs at Istanbul’s Balıklı Greek Patriarchate following a religious ceremony held at the Fener Patriarchate on Sunday.

The Fener Patriarch took the initiative to bring the bones of Constantine the Sixth, who died in Athens, to Istanbul, negotiating with both the Athens Governorship and the Turkish state. Its efforts received a positive response and the metropolitan bishop of Bergama received the bones from Athens and transferred them to Istanbul.

When the bones reached Istanbul, current Patriarch Bartholomew prepared a small ritual and said the soul of Constantine the Sixth would rest among his successors.

Expelled during population exchange

Born in Turkey’s Bursa province, the Constantine was chosen as patriarch Dec. 17, 1924, but was only able to remain in that role for 43 days. He was put on a train to Athens from Istanbul’s Sirkeci Train Station, accompanied by police officers, on Jan. 30, 1925, as part of the 1923 population exchange between Turkey and Greece.

Some accounts of the incident claimed that Constantine’s critical statements about Turkey led to his expulsion.

When he arrived in Greece, Constantine retained his title of patriarch, while the Fener Patriarchate appointed the metropolitan bishop Palikarpon as the deputy patriarch.

Applying to the League of Nations in 1925, the patriarchate demanded the return of Constantine the Sixth to Istanbul, and Greece said he should not be considered within the scope of the population exchange. The ensuing conflict between Turkey and Greece lasted for some time, with the efforts by Greece and the patriarchate ending without bearing fruit. Constantine resigned May 22, 1925.

The 1923 population exchange between Turkey and Greece involved the Greek Orthodox citizens of Turkey and the Muslim citizens of Greece.

The “Convention Concerning the Exchange of Greek and Turkish Populations” was signed in Lausanne, Switzerland on Jan. 30, 1923, by the governments of Turkey and Greece. It involved the exchange of approximately 2 million people in total.

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