Anthimus IV of Constantinople

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Anthimus IV of Constantinople (Greek: Ἄνθιμος) lived from 1788 to 1878. He served as Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople on two occasions: first from 20 February 1840 to 6 May 1841, and then from 18 October 1848 to 30 October 1852.

Early life and career
Anthimus IV was born in Constantinople in the Ottoman Empire. He held various church roles before becoming a bishop, including serving as Chancellor of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. He led the metropolitanates of Ikonion (Konya) from 1825 to 1835, Larissa from 1835 to 1837, and Nikomedeia from 1837 to 1840.

First term as Patriarch
He was elected Ecumenical Patriarch on 20 February 1840. His first tenure ended when the Ottoman sultan Abdülmecid I dismissed him on 6 May 1841. Afterward, Anthimus withdrew to the Princes' Islands near Istanbul.

Second term and actions
Anthimus IV was elected again on 18 October 1848 and served until 30 October 1852. During his second period as patriarch, he conducted secret talks with the Church of Greece, which had declared itself autocephalous in 1833. In 1850 he issued a Patriarchal and Synodical Act recognizing the autocephaly of the Church of Greece in line with canon law.

Later life and death
After his second dismissal, he again returned to the Princes' Islands and remained there until his death in 1878. He is remembered as a 19th‑century Ecumenical Patriarch who played a role in Greece’s move toward autocephaly.