joachim was born in istanbul in 1834, with aromanian origin from kruševo. he was educated in vienna. in 1858-1861 he was the deacon in the holy temple of st george. in 1864 he was elected bishop of varna and in 1874 bishop of thessalonica in the time of his first reign, he worked on the improvement of the financial state of the patriarchate. in 1880 he founded the magazine "truth" and did various other charitable acts. he is seen as one of the most prominent and important patriarchs of the twentieth century and modern times.