The end of the First World War (1914–1918) found the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople without a Patriarch, after Patriarch Germanos V was forced to resign following criticism over his stance during the war and the persecutions against Christians in the Ottoman Empire.
Metropolitan Dorotheos Mammelis of Proussa served as Locum Tenens of the Ecumenical Throne from 1918 to 1921. Born in the region of his later Metropolis, he studied at the Theological School of Halki, graduating with distinction in 1884. He later served the Church in various important ecclesiastical positions before being elected Metropolitan of Proussa in 1908.
Following the resignation of Patriarch Germanos V, Dorotheos was elected caretaker of the Patriarchal Throne. Although he never became Ecumenical Patriarch, he played a significant role during a critical period for both the Church and the Greek nation.
Dorotheos was closely associated with the political developments surrounding Eleftherios Venizelos and the national aspirations of Greece after World War I. His participation in diplomatic activities in Paris and his relations with the Greek government highlighted the close interaction between Church leadership and national politics during that era.
Theological institutions in Greece also supported national policy through symbolic acts, such as honorary doctorates granted to prominent Patriarchs and church leaders. These actions strengthened ties between the Orthodox Church and the Greek state during a crucial historical period.
At the same time, political divisions deeply affected ecclesiastical life. The National Schism between Venizelists and royalists extended into the Church, creating tensions that influenced the election of Patriarchs and bishops. The eventual election and later condemnation of Meletios Metaxakis illustrated the intense political and ecclesiastical conflicts of the period.
Dorotheos of Proussa died in London on March 6, 1921, reopening the issue of electing a new Ecumenical Patriarch. His life and actions remain closely connected with one of the most turbulent chapters in the history of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and modern Greece.
