Chrusanthis was born under the name Charilaos Fillipidis. He studied in the Theological School of Halki from 1897 to 1903 and later went on to Leipzig and Lausanne for further studies from 1907 to 1911. He returned to Constantinople and became editor of the ecclesiastical journal 'Ecclesiastiki Alitheia'. He became first Bishop of Trapezounta (1913-1938) and then Archbishop of Athens (1938-1940). His last election was amidst great controversy and soon the Tsolakoglou government of Nazi occupied Greece forced him off the throne, which went to his more politically active adversary Damaskinos. In 1939 he had been electes a member of the Greek Academy.