Papa Eftim IV
Encyclopedia
Papa Eftim IV is the fourth and incumbent patriarch of the Autocephalous Turkish Orthodox Patriarchate. He was given the title of Turkish Orthodox Patriarch of the Turkish Orthodox Church, an unrecognised Orthodox Christian denomination, with strong influences from Turkish nationalist ideology.
Papa Eftim IV was born as Paşa Ümit Erenerol. He is the grandson of Papa Eftim I
and the son of Papa Eftim III
. He became patriarch after Papa Eftim III resigned his position after political disagreements with the Turkish government over growing links between the Turkish state and the Greek Ecumenical Patriarch and Turkish attempts to join the European Union
and dieing a few weeks later.
Eftim IV took over office in 2002. In his reign, the church suffered great decline. In 2008, Sevgi Erenerol, the daughter of Papa Eftim III, the sister of Papa Eftim IV, and the spokeswoman for the Patriarchate, was arrested for alleged links with a Turkish nationalist underground organisation Ergenekon
. It was also alleged that the Patriarchate served as headquarters for the organisation. Sevgi Erenerol is known for her nationalist activities.
Eventually Papa Eftim IV was arrested in February 2008 with accusations of taking part himself in the Ergenekon network himself.
Papa Eftim IV was born as Paşa Ümit Erenerol. He is the grandson of Papa Eftim I
Papa Eftim I
Papa Eftim I , was the first Turkish Orthodox Patriarch of the Autocephalous Turkish Orthodox Patriarchate, an unrecognised Orthodox Christian denomination, that he founded. Eftim I had strong influences from Turkish nationalist ideology...
and the son of Papa Eftim III
Papa Eftim III
Papa Eftim III was the third patriarch of the Autocephalous Turkish Orthodox Patriarchate. He was given the title of Turkish Orthodox Patriarch of the Turkish Orthodox Church, an unrecognised Orthodox Christian denomination, with strong influences from Turkish nationalist ideology.Papa Eftim III...
. He became patriarch after Papa Eftim III resigned his position after political disagreements with the Turkish government over growing links between the Turkish state and the Greek Ecumenical Patriarch and Turkish attempts to join the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
and dieing a few weeks later.
Eftim IV took over office in 2002. In his reign, the church suffered great decline. In 2008, Sevgi Erenerol, the daughter of Papa Eftim III, the sister of Papa Eftim IV, and the spokeswoman for the Patriarchate, was arrested for alleged links with a Turkish nationalist underground organisation Ergenekon
Ergenekon network
Ergenekon is the name given to an alleged clandestine, Kemalist ultra-nationalist organization in Turkey with possible ties to members of the country's military and security forces...
. It was also alleged that the Patriarchate served as headquarters for the organisation. Sevgi Erenerol is known for her nationalist activities.
Eventually Papa Eftim IV was arrested in February 2008 with accusations of taking part himself in the Ergenekon network himself.