By Martin Hellicar
HOMOSEXUALITY charges are to be answered by Bishop Athanassios of Limassol following a shock decision of the Holy Synod yesterday which ordered him to appear before a committee of inquiry.
Three of the Bishop’s peers — Bishops Pavlos of Kyrenia, Neophytos of Morphou and Vasilios of Trymythounda – are to probe Athanassios over lurid sex allegations levelled against him by Limassol archimandrite Andreas Constantinides.
"It is a day of great sadness for me and for all church leaders," Bishop Neophytos said after the Synod meeting.
Though not a ‘guilty’ verdict against Athanassios, yesterday’s decision from the Church’s governing body came as a surprise, with everyone – including the Bishop’s main detractor Constantinides – having expected the Synod to clear the Limassol Bishop of the sex charges.
On Tuesday, Archimandrite Constantinides appeared so certain of an unfavourable Synod verdict that he was busy threatening to parade his witnesses to the Bishop’s alleged antics before a "people’s court".
In comments after the Synod meeting, Bishop Neophytos made it clear that it had been fresh evidence brought before the body yesterday – rather than the findings of a Synod investigating committee – that had persuaded the Synod to take matters further.
Bishop Neophytos did not divulge what this crucial new evidence had been, but Bishop Chrysostomos of Paphos had said when arriving for the Synod meeting that he had with him "some evidence to put before the Synod if necessary". Chrysostomos has been a consistent Athanassios detractor.
But yesterday’s decision was by no means all good news for Archimandrite Constantinides. Synod secretary, Father Marios Demetriou, also announced that the Synod was to convene again on Monday to look at allegations against Constantinides and another Limassol archimandrite – Chrysostomos Argyrides.
Constantinides is accused of having had an illicit affair with a woman working at his Limassol shop. He is said to have had two children with the woman. Constantinides – who was suspended from church duties after the allegations surfaced – flatly denies any involvement with the shop assistant. The nature of the investigation against Argyrides was unclear yesterday. Argyrides – who is also suspended from duty – is a close associate of Constantinides’.
The Synod decisions concerning Athanassios and the two archimandrites were both arrived at by a majority vote, Bishop Neophytos said.
Athanassios once again refrained from commenting on the allegations against him, arriving and departing through the back door of the Archbishopric.
The Bishop’s supporters have furiously denied the homosexuality allegations, labelling Constantinides a "lying philanderer".
The allegations against Athanassios and Constantinides have sparked a bitter row within the Church that has rumbled on for months now.
Archbishop Chrysostomos has come down on Athnassios’ side, whereas his namesake the Paphos Bishop has been the most notable among the Limassol Bishop’s detractors.
Church observers suggest Chrysostomos of Paphos is keen to see the back of Athanassios because the Limassol Bishop has usurped him as the Archbishop’s favourite.
