Procopius of Constantinople (Greek: Προκόπιος), original surnamePelekasis (Πελεκάσης; 1730 – 13 March 1812) served asEcumenical Patriarch of Constantinople during the period 1785–1789.

Procopius was born in Sitsova ofMessenia in 1730. When he was 12 years old, he followed his older brother, Neophytus, metropolitan bishop ofGanos and Chora (Eastern Thrace), who helped him finish basic education. Later, he ordained himdeacon andpresbyter, and when Neophytus died in 1759, Procopius succeeded him, after request of the people of themetropolis.

Procopius remained in this metropolis for 11 years, until 1770, when he was transferred to theMetropolis of Smyrna, which he managed to pacify after the disruption caused by his predecessor, Kallinikos. Procopius ordained Georgios Angelopoulos deacon and even made himprotosyncellus of the metropolis; Angelopoulos would go on to become a Patriarch and a Saint, under the name ofGregory V of Constantinople. During his reign, many churches were built, though it wasn't possible to get the permission for the construction of the church ofSamaritan woman at the well.

During the period 1780–1782, Procopius was a member of the Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and resided in Constantinople.

On 29 June 1785, he was elected Patriarch of Constantinople. He was ascetic, modest and hard-working. He dealt with the economic and administrative issues of the Patriarchate, trying to limit the external influence in ecclesiastic issues. Thus, he clashed with the ruler ofMoldavia,Alexander Mavrocordatos Firaris, who had elected themetropolitan bishop of Moldavia, Romanos Leontas, on his own.

In 1787, thesecond Russo-Turkish War broke out and the Sultan forced Procopius to renounce the revolutionary movements, as well as gather more taxes and people to reinforce the Ottoman Forces. With his acquiescent stance, he caused reactions and made enemies. With decree from the Sultan,Selim III, he was forced to resign on 30 April 1789 and was exiled to theGreat Lavra inMount Athos.

In 1797, he returned to his home village. Where he resided in a monastic cell next to the Church of Saint Nicholas of Sitsova. Procopius died in 1812 and was buried next to the church. Later, his bones were transported to the Monastery of Mardakios, after the cares of the metropolitan bishop of Messenia, Meletios Sakellaropoulos. When Chrysostomos Daskalakis was the metropolitan of Messenia, he unveiled a bust of his predecessor.

• Οικουμενικό Πατριαρχείο.
• Encyclopaedia Papyrus Larousse Britannica, 2007, vol. 43, p. 650.
• Encyclopaedia of the Hellenic World.

• 1734 births
• 1803 deaths
• 18th-century ecumenical patriarchs of Constantinople
• People from Kalamata

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