Papa Eftim IV

Papa Eftim IV (born Paşa Ümit Erenerol) is the fourth and incumbent patriarch of the Autocephalous Turkish Orthodox Patriarchate. He was given the title of Turkish Orthodox Patriarch of the Turkish Orthodox Church, an unrecognised Eastern Orthodox Christian denomination, with strong influences from Turkish nationalist ideology.

Papa Eftim IV was born as Paşa Ümit Erenerol. He is the grandson of Papa Eftim I and the son of Papa Eftim III. He became patriarch after Papa Eftim III resigned his position 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; Papa Eftim III died a few weeks later.[1]

Eftim IV took over office in 2002. In his reign, the church suffered great decline. In 2008, Sevgi Erenerol - the daughter of Papa Eftim III and the sister of Papa Eftim IV - who was the spokeswoman for the Patriarchate, was arrested for alleged links with a Turkish nationalist underground organisation Ergenekon. It was also alleged that the Patriarchate served as headquarters for the organisation. Sevgi Erenerol is known for her nationalist activities.[2]

Papa Eftim IV was arrested in February 2008 with accusations of taking part in the Ergenekon network himself.[3]