Succeeds Crisóstomo II, who died on November 7. 30% of Cypriot Christians with the right to vote elected a shortlist of bishops; subsequently, the synod of 16 metropolitans elected Georgios with 11 votes. Two “pro-Russian” candidates were defeated. The new head of the Orthodox of Cyprus supports the dialogue with the Catholic Church and the Ecumenical Church of Constantinople.
Istanbul () – On Christmas Eve, the synod of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus elected its new archbishop: Metropolitan Georgios of Pafos, who succeeds Chrysostomos II, who died on November 7.
The Cypriot Church was founded by the Apostle Barnabas. It is the oldest autocephalous church in the Christian world and was sanctioned by the Third Ecumenical Council of Ephesus in the year 431 AD.
According to an ancient tradition that is still in force, all Christians in Cyprus with the right to vote elect a shortlist from among all the candidate bishops. The decision is then reviewed by the synod, which proceeds to elect the new archbishop.
The shortlist arose after the election on December 18, in which 30% of Cypriots with the right to vote participated. Six candidates appeared in these primaries, in a campaign animated by various debates and polls. In the end, the vote awarded the Metropolitan of Limassol, Athanasios (35.68%), the Metropolitan of Pafos, Georgios (18.39%) and Isaias, Metropolitan of Tamasos (18.10%).
Athanasios and Isaias, from the so-called pro-Russian party, were the most active in the primaries: they extolled a traditionalist mentality, dedicated to the constant search for fanatical supporters. Especially Athanasios, according to which the winner of the primaries should be proclaimed the winner immediately, regardless of the statute of the Cypriot Church.
As various observers have pointed out, the real winner was the Cypriot abstention, which reached 70%: voters are against religious fundamentalism and fanaticism, phenomena alien to true orthodox ecclesiology.
Following the will of the Cypriots, the synod of 16 metropolitans (according to the statute) elected Georgios on the first ballot: he received 11 votes, while the other candidates received four and there was a blank vote.
The new archbishop expressed his intention to adapt the Church of Cyprus to the challenges of the world, continuing the path of his predecessor Chrysostomos II. Georgios III was born in 1949. He became a priest in 1984, at the age of 35, after receiving a doctorate in Chemical Engineering and Theology.
Over the years he has developed an intense pastoral activity and is a fervent supporter of dialogue with the Catholic Church and with the Ecumenical Church of Constantinople. He is one of the most active members of the Cretan Pan-Orthodox Synod and opposes the foolish ambitions of the Russian Orthodox Church.
From a political point of view, Georgios is in favor of a fair solution to the Cypriot question (between Greek Cypriots and the population of Turkish origin), which respects international standards and the island’s membership of the European Union.
