Neophytos H', born Joachim, was born in 1832 in the village of Proti (Kiup-Kioi).
Resume:
Neophytos VIII (born Joakim Papaconstantinou) was the Patriarch of Constantinople from 1891 to 1894. He was born in the village of Proti Serron (then Kiup-kioi) in 1832. At the age of six he was sent to the Monastery of Ikosifonissa, where his relatives lived. In 1851 he began his studies at the Theological School of Halki.
During his studies he was ordained a deacon and renamed Neophytos. After his studies he worked for a while as a teacher, and then as an assistant to the Metropolitan of Nyssa and later to Stromnitsis.
He then went to Germany, where he learned German and studied Theology in Munich. After his return he became archdeacon of Metropolitan Amaseias, by whom he was ordained elder and ordained archimandrite. On November 25, 1867, he was elected bishop of Eleftheroupolis.
On January 19, 1872, he was transferred to the Diocese of Philippopolis. In 1878 he was a candidate in the Patriarchal Elections, during which Joachim III was elected Patriarch. In 1880 he was transferred to the Diocese of Adrianoupolis.
In 1886 he resigned due to overwork and went to Vatopedi Monastery on Mount Athos. In 1887, however, he was elected Metropolitan of Pelagonia and in 1891 Metropolitan of Nicopolis and Preveza. After the death of the Ecumenical Patriarch Dionysios V, a new Patriarch was elected on October 27, 1891, but not without controversy and incidents, as at that time there was a division between "Joachimists" and "anti-Joachimists". On November 2 of the same year, he was presented to Sultan Abdul Hamid II and then enthroned.
During his Patriarchate, the so-called "school issue" was dealt with, i.e. the issue of recognition of the schools of the diaspora, as well as the issue of the introduction of the teaching of the Turkish language to them was settled.
It was also decided to hold a eulogy at the Ecumenical Patriarchate on the day of the Sultan's birthday, but also on the day of the new Sultan's recovery to the Throne. During his Patriarchate, the creation of a land register of the monasteries also began.
On October 25, 1894, he was forced to resign and retired to the island of Antigoni, where he died on July 5, 1909.
He was buried in the grounds of the Halki Theological School.
Sunday, August 9, 2015, Unveiling of the statue of Patriarch Neophytos VIII in Proti Serron,
in the courtyard of the church of Agia Paraskevi.
