He was born in 1874 and baptised as Dimitrios Maniatis. After finishing elementary education, he attended the
Zariphios School in
Philippopolis. He studied theology at the
University of Athens and philosophy at
LMU Munich. He spoke Greek,
Turkish,
Bulgarian,
French and
German fluently. In 1902, he was ordained deacon. He remained in the Metropolis of
Philippopolis, where he reached the rank of
protosynkellos. Then was named Patriarchal
Exarch of Philippopolis for the period 1906–1914. In 1915, he was elected assistant bishop of
Eirinoupoli. On 7 October 1929, he was elected
Ecumenical Patriarch and enthroned on the same day. After over a year, the Turkish authorities relented. The patriarch Photios II died on 29 December 1935 and was succeeded by
Ecumenical Patriarch Benjamin I. == Notes and references ==