Germanus (3)

Germanus archbishop of Patras, one of the promoters of the Greek insurrection, was born about 1771 at Dimizana, in Arcadia, and died in 1827. He was secretary and deacon to the metropolitan of Argolis, then to Gregory V, patriarch of Constantinople, and finally to the archbishop of Cyzicus. In 1806 he became archbishop of Patras. When Ali Pasha provoked the insurrection of the Greeks, Germanus put himself at the head of the insurgent party, and ever since his name has been connected with the history of that period. In the interest of Greece he went in 1822 to Italy. He sought the protection of the great powers then assembled at the Verona Congress. When the provisional government was created, Germanus was appointed minister of religious affairs, and held this office till his death. See Pouqueville, Histoire de la Regeneration de la Grece; Philimon, History of the Greek Insurrection; Goudas, Contemporary Biographies (Athens, 1872, the last two works written in Greek); Moshakis, in Lichtenberger, Encyclop. des Sciences Religieuses, s.v. (B.P.)