Prokopios Lazaridis (Saint Prokopios of Iconium)

ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ

Saint Prokopios of Iconium, born Prokopios Lazaridis, was a prominent spiritual and ecclesiastical figure of the late 19th and early 20th century, an important hierarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and a Martyr of the Faith, as he died under wretched conditions of exile imposed by the Turkish authorities in 1923. He is considered a Neo-Martyr of Asia Minor, and his memory is honored on April 20, the day of his repose, and also on the Sunday before the Elevation of the Holy Cross, together with the other Asia Minor Neo-Martyrs.

Early Life – Origins and Education

He was born in 1859 in Cappadocia, a region with a long Christian history. He came from a wealthy and pious Greek family that raised him with deep religious ethos and a strong Greek Orthodox identity. From an early age, he showed a strong inclination toward learning and spiritual life.

He studied at the Theological School of Halki, the most important seminary of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. He distinguished himself for his theological knowledge, love of learning, and exemplary conduct. There, he met influential figures who shaped his theological thinking and acquired a solid education in philosophy and the teachings of the Church Fathers.

Ecclesiastical Career

His ecclesiastical journey was distinguished, marked by consistency, self-sacrifice, and courageous leadership:

Metropolitan of Dyrrachium: His first episcopal appointment was on the western coast of the Balkans, in Dyrrachium (modern-day Durrës, Albania). There, he worked to support his flock, establish schools, and strengthen Greek identity in an ethnically mixed and ecclesiastically troubled area.

Metropolitan of Philadelphia (Asia Minor): He was then transferred to the historic Metropolis of Philadelphia, where he zealously served the local Greek community, which faced difficulties due to increasing Turkish oppression and economic decline.

Metropolitan of Iconium: The most defining period of his ministry began with his transfer to the major Metropolis of Iconium in Cappadocia. Iconium had a vibrant Greek community, but the pressures of the Young Turk regime had become suffocating. Metropolitan Prokopios stood beside his flock with courage, offering hope-filled words and pastoral care.

Leadership in Times of Persecution

Between 1914 and 1922, the Greeks of Asia Minor suffered severe persecutions at the hands of the Young Turks and later the Kemalist regime. Prokopios never abandoned his people. On the contrary, he resisted the ethnic cleansing, fighting to preserve Greek identity and Orthodoxy.

During the Asia Minor Catastrophe in 1922, despite immense pressure, he refused to leave Iconium and remained with the population, fully aware that he faced either imprisonment or death. The Turkish authorities arrested him and exiled him along with other Asia Minor hierarchs and community leaders.

Martyrdom and Repose

Saint Prokopios died in exile on April 20, 1923, at the age of 64, under inhumane conditions, weakened by hardship, hunger, and illness. His final acts were prayer and words of comfort to his fellow prisoners, encouraging them with the hope of Resurrection and Freedom.

Many sources note that he refused to sign documents of submission to the Turkish authorities or to renounce his pastoral mission—an act seen as pivotal in affirming his status as a martyr.

Recognition and Canonization

The Orthodox Church, recognizing his martyrdom and self-sacrifice, numbered Prokopios Lazaridis among the Neo-Martyrs. His official canonization was declared by a Patriarchal and Synodal Decree of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and his memory is commemorated:

On April 20, the day of his repose;

On the Sunday before the Elevation of the Holy Cross, along with all the Asia Minor Neo-Martyrs.

The Church honors his memory as a symbol of sacrifice and steadfast faith, especially in a time of the collapse of Hellenism in Asia Minor.

Legacy and Significance

The personality of Saint Prokopios of Iconium stands as a symbol of faith, courage, and love for fellow human beings. In the historical memory of Asia Minor refugees, Prokopios remains a heroic hierarch, a bishop of the people, who did not compromise, did not lose heart, and never abandoned his responsibilities, even in the most difficult hour.

His life serves as a model for modern pastoral ministry—an expression of pastoral responsibility, confession of faith, and ethno-religious consciousness.