Patriarch Germanus was born in the Phanar district of Constantinople in 1835 and was baptized Georgios Kavakopoulos (Greek: Γεώργιος Καβακόπουλος). He obtained his education in Jerusalem and Athens, before attending the Theological School of Halki. He was given the name Germanus when he entered the monastic clergy. In 1864, he was the archdeacon for Patriarch Sofronius III. After his consecration he was the ruling archbishop in four archdioceses: Kos in 1867, Rhodes from 1876 to 1888, Iraklis from 1888 to 1897, and Chalcedony from 1897 to 1913.