At a young age, he was ordained deacon, and later he became an archdeacon of the Patriarch Paisius II of Constantinople.

He limited the expenses, restrained the fundraisers, and the procession of the "disk" five times per year and he repealed the old habit for priests and hieromonks to contribute in-kind (animals, eggs, etc.)

On a social level, Samuel inveighed against the "slavery of the woman" and talked against the institution of dowry and commercial wedding.

He was exiled to Great Lavra of Mount Athos, but in 1770 he convinced the Ottoman government to allow him to return to his residence in Tarabya.

After the resignation of Theodosius II of Constantinople, the Synod reelected Samuel Patriarch, against his will, on 17 November 1773.