Synod agrees to create new districts

THE HOLY SYNOD yesterday increased the number of Bishoprics and Suffragan Bishoprics to 12.

The decision was taken during a meeting of the Synod, held at the Archbishopric in Nicosia, to establish six more Church districts, Constantia, Tamassos, Myrianthousi, Trimithounta, Karpasia and Arsinoe.

“The new Bishoprics and Suffragan Bishoprics, apart from the Holy Archbishopric and the existing five Bishoprics, are: Constantia, Tamassos, Myrianthousi, Trimithounta, Karpasia and Arsinoe,” Bishop Georgios of Paphos said after the meeting.

When asked whether the new districts will be named Bishoprics or Suffragan Bishoprics, the Bishop said that, “this will be clarified in the future. The Holy Synod has not decided yet.”

Regarding the procedures for the election of the new Bishops and Suffragan Bishops, he said that it was up to Archibishop Chrysostomos to decide when they would take place.

The next meeting of the Holy Synod will take place in March.

The Holy Synod currently consists of the Archbishop of Cyprus as its head, the Bishops of Paphos, Kiti, Kyrenia, Limassol and Morphou, the Suffragan Bishops of Salamis, Trimithounta and Arsinoe, and the Bishop of Kykkos.

The Church of Cyprus was declared autocephalous in 478AD when the remains of its founder, Saint Barnabas, were located in a tomb on the island, together with a copy of the gospel by Saint Matthew.

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