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Patriarch Athenagoras (born Aristokles Spyrou) ( March 25, 1886 - July 6/ 7, 1972) was the Patriarch of Constantinople from 1948 to 1972.

He was born in Tsaraplana , Epirus. His meeting with Pope John XXIII and Paul VI ( 1964) in the Second Vatican Council led to rescinding the 1054 excommunications of the Great Schism. This was a significant step towards restoring full communion between Rome and Constantinople.

He died in IstanbulMunicipality's Logo Istanbul ( Turkish spelling: İstanbul) is the largest city in Turkey. Until 1930 this city was commonly known by its original Greek name Constantinople by westerners; some writings named it Stambul especially in the 19th century..

See also: Eastern OrthodoxyEastern Orthodox Christianity (Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox) is the modern name primarily applied to the Christian church that claims to be the original historical church started by Christ Jesus and his Apostles 2000 years ago. They claim unbroken apo - Michael CerulariusMichael Cerularius (b. Constantinople c. 1059), also known as Michael Keroularios or Patriarch Michael I was the Patriarch of Constantinople from 1043 to 1059. In 1054 he quarrelled with legates sent by Pope Leo IX over church practises which had been dif