PHANAR AFFAIRS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R000400370004-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 17, 1999
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: March 20, 1947
• Content Type: IR

Approved Fpr R . I ase1999/d /08 : CIA-RDP82-00457R00040037
CENTRAL INTELL
COUNTRY Turkcsy
SUBJECT Phanar A ffatire
25X1A6a
OFMN
25X1A2g
IMTE 25X1A6a
INFO.
out. March 19h?
-We; 2
SUPF!"ENT 3D-,--32U
25X1X6
3. !Then the news of Patriarch Maximus' mental condition was first made public,
the Turkish authorities had planned to appoint a medical, commission to
visit the Patriarch and ascertain the nature of his illness, but up to
now they nave retrained from such action.
2. Informed Turkish circles admit that if a medical oomaission were to find
the Patriarch's illness incurable, the Turkish authorities world insist
upon his resignation and the iomediate election of a successor, in order
to and the present ambiguous situation at the Phanar..
3? At present the Turkish Government wishes to have the Phanar in charge
of a powerful mau, who could cope with Patriarch Alexei and the religious
policies of Russia,
b. Turkish authorities reportedly would welcome Mgr. Thomas as the next
Patriarch. He is well k=m to therms as he has headed many patriarchal
delegations to Ankara. He speaks fluent Turkish and comes of Anatolian
stock. He is also known for his anti..Russian attitude and has been heard
to express hi self very strongly against the activities of Patriarch Alex i.
Since does not wish to be a candidate, the Turkish authorities
vould approve, as an alternative choice, Metropolitan Tacovas of Igoe,
e~fio was favored some years ago by the former Turkish Minister of Interior
Awfi Kaya as his choice for Patriarch.
Mgr. Yacovas apparently still has a number of 25X1 X6
i=11 u=tial Tur ki.sh friends.
A Ruesien delegation, which did net sicced Sn obtaining &i visa for
Turkciy3 is nc? ri4f.ting Dam sinus, Jerusalem, Alexandria, Cairo, etc.,
and is keeping in close touch with the leading Arab personalities
of the Crthodox faith?
It is possible that the above-mentioned
visit, refers to the Russian delegation, headed by Metropolitan 25X1A6a
Gregory of Leningrad, which visited Cairo, Alexandria, Jerusalem
and Tamascns in November ead_ea
.Z&Aqpraember 1946.
Auth:]
THIS DI IBUTION LISTING MUST gT ate:
EXCISED 8EFC3k#,i
Approves For Keiease 1999 -KUPt$Z-UU45/K000
 Approved For Release 1999/09/08 : CIA-RDP82-00457R000400370004-7
25X1A2g
6. Tt i3 reported that i'hanar circlos have cataoriaally denied
the statoments piblishod in Tanin on 26 January to the effect
that & Russian delo -ation, } bY 'etropolitan Gregory of
Leni.nad, vas preparin ; to visit Patriarch ?'aai.ms
and that durlnc the vt8it the historic wooden gateway at the
entrance of the Patriarchate would be dismantled,
25X1X6
This is the -atew y on vrhich Patriarch
.,,pry Y r+ae hanged, by order of the au1tan in 1621,
Greg
in rotaliatlon for the -=ree`-: revolutionary move:-ant.
7. Fhanar circles r sportedy contend that this nvspaper report
is baste on a ,pclicy of provocation and this in spite of the
fact that Yal1in, editor of 'Paniny advocates close T r tsh-
Greek frit3aclsna.p
8. It is stated t!,.at Turf:ish watix)ritieG have troquently requested
that this rutcnta r b dL- t1od, but that the Phan ar v4 u never,
conswrt to the ?dostrawtion of this historic uyu of of the earl;
Crook rcvaa utionary rzvo eont .
a ng lira tts U oua1 de :~aulav vs ia'a
'united s within the r ean1ng at
the Espiona8L U. S. v. r'i'sS .32
as emended. - Its t ss+ or th4
revelation of i:ss uvui.cs oii u~aeis'iex'
to an unauthorized person is bated
is docurnarit contains Information
by law,
Approved For Release 1999/09/08 : CIA-RDP82-00457R000400370004-7