Theocletus I

Theocletus I was a Greek clergyman who served twice as Archbishop of Athens (1902 - 1917 and 1920 - 1922).

Theocletus was born in Tripolis, Arcadia. His surname in the world was Minopoulos.

In 1892, he was elected Archbishop of Monemvasia and Sparta. In 1902, he was elected Archbishop of Athens and all Greece. As Archbishop, he involved himself in the political upheaval of the time, siding with the monarchy against Eleftherios Venizelos. He went as far as excommunicating Venizelos in a ceremony at Aris Field in Athens in 1916.

For the reason, after Venizelos came to power in 1917, Theocletus was removed from his post, by a special ecclesiastical court, and replaced by Meletius - a venizelist.

In November 1920, when the royalist Popular Party came to power, Meletius was removed, by a simple government order, and Theocletus was restored.

He was once again ousted in 1922 after the Asia Minor disaster.