Papa Eftim III, secular name Selçuk Erenerol (1926 – 20 December 2002), was the third patriarch of the

Autocephalous Turkish Orthodox Patriarchate The Autocephalous Turkish Orthodox Patriarchate ( tr, ), also referred to as the Turkish Orthodox Church ( tr, ), is an Eastern Orthodox Communion, unrecognised Orthodox Christian denomination, descending from Turkish-speaking Karamanlides. Gen ...

. He was given the title of Turkish Orthodox Patriarch of the Autocephalous Turkish Orthodox Patriarchate, an unrecognised Orthodox Christian denomination, with strong influences from

Turkish nationalist Turkish nationalism ( tr, Türk milliyetçiliği) is a political ideology that promotes and glorifies the Turkish people, as either a national, ethnic, or linguistic group. The term "ultranationalism" is often used to describe Turkish nationalis ...

ideology. Papa Eftim III was known as Selçuk Erenerol. He was the younger son of

Papa Eftim I Papa Eftim I, born Pavlos Karahisarithis ( el, Παύλος Καραχισαρίδης; 1883 – 14 March 1968),

and younger brother of

Papa Eftim II Papa Eftim II (born Yiorghos Karahisarithis ( el, Γιώργος Καραχισαρίδης), later changed to Turgut Erenerol; 1920, Ankara – 1991, Istanbul) was the elder son of Papa Eftim I, the founder of the Autocephalous Turkish Orthodox ...

. He was a businessman by profession. He became patriarch after Papa Eftim II died in May 1991. Eftim III took over office ruling from 1991 until his resignation in 2002, after political disagreements with the Turkish government over growing links between the Turkish state and the Greek Ecumenical Patriarch and Turkish attempts to join the

European Union The European Union (EU) is a supranational political and economic union of member states that are located primarily in Europe. The union has a total area of and an estimated total population of about 447million. The EU has often been des ...

. He was succeeded by his son Paşa Ümit Erenerol named as Papa Eftim IV. Papa Eftim III died on 20 December 2002 just weeks after his resignation from his position.

References

1926 births 2002 deaths Turkish nationalists Turkish people of Greek descent Autocephalous Turkish Orthodox Patriarchate {{Turkey-reli-bio-stub