LIKE budding popstars, the heirs apparent to the Archbishopric’s throne have been parading on television networks all week, subjected to the probing questions of journalists.
The bishops’ omnipresence on flickering scenes has helped the public build a profile
On Monday night, soft-spoken Limassol bishop Athanasios was the first to appear on a new round of one-on-one interviews on CyBC television.
Athanasios’ demeanour and language confirmed his profile as a pious cleric interested primarily in spiritualism and the salvation of the soul.
The bishop consistently refused to be drawn into a blame game or comment on the actions or words of the other candidates.
Yet his answers were confident, and he was willing to talk about the sex scandal that has rocked his bishopric in recent weeks.
Still, despite this explosive affair, and for all the journalist’s efforts, the flow of the interview could not have been less controversial.
That all changed the following night when Kykkos Bishop Nikiforos was taken on by CyBC anchor Emilia Kenevezou.
The highlight of the interview came when Nikiforos admitted to being pressured by Paphos Bishop Chrysostomos to stand as a candidate in the event of Archbishopric elections.
Keeping a straight face, Nikiforos said the reason behind the proposal – dating years back – was to offset the likely candidacy of Athanasios, who was seen – and still is – as the most popular cleric.
In other words, Chrysostomos was building a faction to prevent his brother Athanasios from becoming Archbishop.
Nikiforos was then quizzed on allegations he had donated large sums of cash to Omonia, a football club affiliated to communist AKEL.
The bishop dismissed this as calumny, saying that in the past quarters had accused him of giving money to Apoel and to Anorthosis, clubs with rightwing political affiliations.
“They are just trying to divide the people, their ultimate goal being to hurt my candidacy,” Nikiforos declared.
And with disarming candour, he said that his relationship with Chrysostomos had been “poisoned”.
This was in stark contrast to the clich?d stance of bishops that all is well between them.
Meanwhile on Sigma channel the same evening, Paphos Bishop Chrysostomos continued portraying himself as a capable moral and practical leader.
In response to questions, Chrysostomos said he was against pre-marital sex, because according to the Church this was tantamount to “prostitution”.
On the same issue, Nikiforos said he was more lenient on couples who had sex outside wedlock but who went on to get married.
As far as artificial insemination went, Nikiforos and Chrysostomos shared the view that this was permissible so long as the sperm came from the husband of the couple and not a stranger.
The elections start this Sunday, when the public will vote in 1,400 Special Representatives. These representatives will next vote for 100 Electors. The Electors will then be joined by 33 ex officio clerics, voting separately for a new Archbishop. If a candidate secures a majority in both ballots, he is the winner and the new Primate.
Because of the structure of the elections, all the contenders are hoping for the highest possible turnout.
Yesterday the Cyprus Confederation of Workers (SEK) called on all its members to participate in the elections, “for the sake of democracy”.
The rightwing trade union said strong Church leadership was “imperative in a time when Cypriot society is plagued by a myriad dangers: drugs, juvenile delinquency and a general breakdown of traditional values.”
Even football fixtures in the local league have been moved to Saturday, to ensure the maximum allocation of police resources to the elections.
But it was reported yesterday that Chrysostomos, the caretaker of the Church, had decided against employing the services of the police on Election Day.
The bishop had apparently decided that the policing cost – around £100,000 – was too high.
