Prokopios Lazaridis ( el, Προκόπιος Λαζαρίδης, 1859–1923) was a

Greek Orthodox The term Greek Orthodox Church ( Greek: Ἑλληνορθόδοξη Ἐκκλησία, ''Ellinorthódoxi Ekklisía'', ) has two meanings. The broader meaning designates "the entire body of Orthodox (Chalcedonian) Christianity, sometimes also cal ...

metropolitan bishop In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan (alternative obsolete form: metropolite), pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis. Originally, the term referred to the ...

, who served as a head in a number of bishoprics during the late Ottoman period. As a bishop of Iconium, modern

Konya Konya () is a major city in central Turkey, on the southwestern edge of the Central Anatolian Plateau, and is the capital of Konya Province. During antiquity and into Seljuk times it was known as Iconium (), although the Seljuks also called it ...

, in central

Anatolia Anatolia, tr, Anadolu Yarımadası), and the Anatolian plateau, also known as Asia Minor, is a large peninsula in Western Asia and the westernmost protrusion of the Asian continent. It constitutes the major part of modern-day Turkey. The ...

, he was involved with the issue of the creation of the Turkish Orthodox Church. He died in Turkish prison in 1923. He is commemorated by the

Greek Orthodox Church The term Greek Orthodox Church ( Greek: Ἑλληνορθόδοξη Ἐκκλησία, ''Ellinorthódoxi Ekklisía'', ) has two meanings. The broader meaning designates "the entire body of Orthodox (Chalcedonian) Christianity, sometimes also cal ...

as Hieromartyr ( el, ιερομάρτυρας) and his feast day is celebrated on the Sunday before the

Exaltation of the Holy Cross In the Christian liturgical calendar, there are several different Feasts of the Cross, all of which commemorate the cross used in the crucifixion of Jesus. Unlike Good Friday, which is dedicated to the passion of Christ and the crucifixion, these ...

each year (September 7–13).

Life

Prokopios Lazaridis was born in

Tyana Tyana ( grc, Τύανα), earlier known as Tuwana ( Hieroglyphic Luwian: ; Akkadian: ) and Tuwanuwa ( Hittite: ) was an ancient city in the Anatolian region of Cappadocia, in modern Kemerhisar, Niğde Province, Central Anatolia, Turkey. It w ...

, in

Konya Province Konya Province ( tr, ), in southwest Central Anatolia, is the largest province of Turkey. The provincial capital is the city of Konya. Its traffic code is 42. The Kızılören solar power plant in Konya will be able to produce 22.5 megaw ...

in 1859. He attended the

Halki Seminary The Halki seminary, formally the Theological School of Halki ( el, Θεολογική Σχολή Χάλκης and tr, Ortodoks Ruhban Okulu), was founded on 1 October 1844 on the island of Halki ( Turkish: Heybeliada), the second-largest of the ...

Constantinople la, Constantinopolis ota, قسطنطينيه , alternate_name = Byzantion (earlier Greek name), Nova Roma ("New Rome"), Miklagard/Miklagarth (Old Norse), Tsargrad ( Slavic), Qustantiniya ( Arabic), Basileuousa ("Queen of Cities"), Megalopolis ( ...

(

Istanbul ) , postal_code_type = Postal code , postal_code = 34000 to 34990 , area_code = +90 212 (European side) +90 216 (Asian side) , registration_plate = 34 , blank_name_sec2 = GeoTLD , blank_i ...

) at 1875. In 1899 he became Metropolitan of Dyrrachium (modern

Durrës Durrës ( , ; sq-definite, Durrësi) is the second most populous city of the Republic of Albania and seat of Durrës County and Durrës Municipality. It is located on a flat plain along the Albanian Adriatic Sea Coast between the mouths of ...

in central

Albania Albania ( ; sq, Shqipëri or ), or , also or . officially the Republic of Albania ( sq, Republika e Shqipërisë), is a country in Southeastern Europe. It is located on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea and shares ...

), where he developed significant activity among the local Orthodox communities. In 1906 he was installed in the Anatolian city of Philadelphia (

Alaşehir Alaşehir (), in Antiquity and the Middle Ages known as Philadelphia ( el, Φιλαδέλφεια, i.e., "the city of him who loves his brother"), is a town and district of Manisa Province in the Aegean region of Turkey. It is situated in the va ...

Asia Minor Anatolia, tr, Anadolu Yarımadası), and the Anatolian plateau, also known as Asia Minor, is a large peninsula in Western Asia and the westernmost protrusion of the Asian continent. It constitutes the major part of modern-day Turkey. The re ...

), as the head of the local bishopric. In 1911 he became metropolitan bishop of Iconium, in central Anatolia. During the

Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922) There have been several Greco-Turkish Wars: *Greek War of Independence (1821–1830), against the Ottoman Empire *Undeclared war in 1854 during the Crimean War, with Greek irregulars invading Ottoman Epirus ( Epirus Revolt of 1854) and Thessaly * Fi ...

, the nationalist Turkish authorities in an attempt to Turkify and take the Orthodox church under their full control, founded the Turkish Orthodox Church in Kayseri and installed Papa Eftim as its head. Prokopios was against these developments and tried to reach a solution concerning the administration of the Orthodox Church in Anatolia. In September 20, 1920, as a result of his intervention, Prokopios, as well as the local Armenian bishop of Konya, were imprisoned by the nationalist authorities of

Mustafa Kemal Mustafa ( ar, مصطفى , Muṣṭafā) is one of the names of Prophet Muhammad, and the name means "chosen, selected, appointed, preferred", used as an Arabic given name and surname. Mustafa is a common name in the Muslim world. Given name ...

. Prokopios then was transferred to the prison of

Erzurum Erzurum (; ) is a city in eastern Anatolia, Turkey. It is the largest city and capital of Erzurum Province and is 1,900 meters (6,233 feet) above sea level. Erzurum had a population of 367,250 in 2010. The city uses the double-headed eagle as ...

, and stayed there from October 1920 to May 1922. Soon after his release, he visited

Ankara Ankara ( , ; ), historically known as Ancyra and Angora, is the capital of Turkey. Located in the central part of Anatolia, the city has a population of 5.1 million in its urban center and over 5.7 million in Ankara Province, maki ...

, where he met Mustafa Kemal in an attempt to ask him to abstain from the ecclesiastical dispute concerning the creation of the Turkish Orthodox Patriarchate, due to severe health problems he suffered. Nevertheless, his proposal was rejected. Prokopios presided in the following ecclesiastical council at January 1923, where he was obliged to proclaim the Turkish Orthodox Church. However, Turkish interests subsided, due to the Greek defeat in Anatolia and the subsequent deportation of the Greek Orthodox communities from Anatolia. Prokopios was again imprisoned and died in detention in April 1923 in Kayseri prison.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lazaridis, Prokopios 1859 births 1923 deaths 20th-century Christian saints 20th-century Eastern Orthodox bishops 20th-century Eastern Orthodox martyrs People who died in the Greek genocide Bishops of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople Konya Province People from Kemerhisar Prisoners who died in Turkish detention Theological School of Halki alumni People murdered in Turkey Saints of modern Greece Christian saints killed by Muslims Anatolian Greeks Greek saints of the Eastern Orthodox Church Eastern Orthodox bishops of Iconium Greek people who died in prison custody