FORMER Limassol Bishop Chrysanthos died from a heart attack late on Thursday night, state pathologist Sophoclis Sophocleous confirmed yesterday. He was 76.
Chrysanthos had lived away from the public eye since 1998 after he was forced to resign in the face of mounting allegations implicating him in an international financial scam, and was banned from performing any Church services for two years. He denied the charges.
The bishop had been accused of attempting to swindle a British-based investor of $3.7 million. The case against him was suspended when the key prosecution witness failed to show up in court in Nicosia.
And in a separate case, the US Securities and Exchange Commission named Chrysanthos in a get-rich-quick scheme accused of stealing more than $6 million from at least four groups of investors, including an Ecuadorian charity for underprivileged girls.
At around 10.30pm on Thursday night, the bishop, who lived with his sister, started to feel chest pains and called an ambulance. By the time paramedics picked him up he was unconscious. He was transported to Limassol general hospital where duty doctors pronounced him dead.
Paphos and Limassol Bishops Chrysostomos and Athanasios yesterday expressed their deepest sadness at the 76-year-old’s passing.
The Limassol Bishopric announced three-days of mourning and the town’s church flags were flown at half-mast. In the morning, Limassol Bishop Athanasios conducted a memorial service at the Cathedral of Panayia Pantanassa in Limassol and over the next 40 days the daily Holy Liturgy will be offered up for the repose of his soul.
Speaking to reporters yesterday, Bishop Athanasios said the former bishop’s body would be displayed at the Cathedral from today so that the people could pay their last respects. Chrysanthos’ funeral will take place tomorrow at noon and he will be buried at his birth place in Livadia Pitsylias in the Nicosia district.
The Limassol Bishopric has asked that instead of wreaths, mourners give charitable contributions.
Chrysanthos was Limassol’s first bishop when the see was founded in 1974.
He had always maintained his innocence, saying he was duped by his business associates. He claims his motive was merely to raise money for charitable organisations.
