A JUBILANT Bishop Chrysostomos of Paphos yesterday vowed that under his watch as Primate he would end the bickering that has divided the Church.
His enthronement as Chrysostomos II will be held on Sunday.
Politicians, including President Tassos Papadopoulos and House Speaker Demetris Christofias, congratulated Chrysostomos on his election.
“I wish to thank my Holy brothers, particularly the Bishops of Limassol and Kykkos because…I was elected with their votes,” Chrysostomos said in a reconciliatory victory speech.
“I need all your support,” he added.
“Whimsical behaviour inside the Church stops now. Decisions will be taken by the Holy Synod, unanimously or by majority, and will be implemented forthwith.”
Chrysostomos was alluding to the indecision plaguing the Holy Synod during the years it was leaderless, after his namesake Archbishop Chrysostomos was relieved of his duties after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
In fact, were it not for the intervention of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the elections for a new Archbishop last week might never have taken place.
Chrysostomos has pledged to increase the number of bishops in the Holy Synod from nine to 13, so that the body may be empowered to make major decisions.
Other changes include amendments to the Church charter simplifying the way elections are held.
Moreover, the Archbishop-elect will be setting up a committee dealing with endowments that have fallen into disuse, as part of a drive to straighten out Church finances.
And in a sign of his managerial style, Chrysostomos said “the doors of the Archbishopric will be open to everyone… I shall be a father and brother to you all.”
“We must have a feel for the pulse of the nation,” he added, alluding to the broad perception that people have become estranged from the Church.
Born Herodotos Demetriou in the village of Tala, Paphos on 10 April 1941, Chrysostomos graduated from the Athens University’s School of Theology in 1972. He was ordained Metropolitan of the Paphos Diocese in February 1978, following an election.
His predecessor, Chrysostomos I, was enthroned on 13 November 1977, after Archbishop Makarios III unexpectedly died of a heart attack in the same year.
The elderly Chrysostomos would continue living at the Archbishopric, Church official Yiannos Charilaou told the Mail yesterday.
Last week the former Archbishop, 79, was admitted to hospital for a “routine check”.
