He studied at the Theological School of Halki, from which he graduated in 1882, after submitting a thesis entitled "On the Authenticity of the Four Gospels".

During the Asia Minor campaign, when the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople decided to sever relations with the government of the Ottoman Empire, Gregory VII, disagreeing with this decision, resigned as president of the National Joint Council and from the Holy Synod and retired to his Metropolis.

The bishops selected Gregory VII, who had not been involved in secular political issues and had even maintained good relations with the Turkish authorities.

On 10 May 1924, Metropolitan Vasilios (Komvopoulos) of Chaldea, who had organized churches in America without the permission of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, was also deposed.

With his actions towards the Greek Government, Gregory VII tried to avoid the expulsion of clergy based on the agreed exchange of populations.