Chrysanthos could be offered an `unobtrusive’ Church role after Holy Synod team probes corruption charges
By Charlie Charalambous
LIMASSOL Bishop Chrysanthos yesterday resigned in the wake of corruption charges levelled against him by a top Church investigative body.
According to CyBC radio yesterday, which quoted informed Church sources, the bishop sent one of his aides to the Archbishopric in Nicosia to submit a letter of resignation to Archbishop Chrysostomos.
The Holy Synod, which had been due to meet on Thursday to discuss the bishop’s defence on the eight charges against him, is now expected to hold an emergency session today to decide whether to accept the resignation.
The Holy Synod is apparently ready to accept the resignation and offer Chrysanthos an unobtrusive role in the Church, according to Bishop Chrysostomos of Paphos.
Chrysanthos yesterday declined to comment on the reports, but said he would give his opinions after the Holy Synod meets again.
The Bishop of Paphos yesterday confirmed to reporters that he had met Chrysanthos last week to discuss his resignation. He also said the archbishop had been informed of the bishop’s intention to resign as early as last Thursday.
Chrysanthos was told by the archbishop to submit his resignation in writing as soon as possible, Bishop Chrysostomos said. The Paphos bishop yesterday congratulated Chrysanthos for making the right decision for the good of the Church.
CyBC yesterday leaked the contents of the resignation letter, in which the bishop maintains his innocence. In the letter, Chrysanthos argues that all his actions were motivated by good intentions and to ensure financial security for the Church, CyBC said.
Nevertheless, Chrysanthos is quoted as saying in the letter that he was submitting his resignation because by remaining in office the good name of the Church would further be harmed.
Two weeks ago, the three bishops appointed by the Holy Synod to investigate the allegations against Chrysanthos issued a charge sheet against the bishop. Chrysanthos was given 15 days to study the charges and prepare a defence.
The three-page document drawn up by the bishops of Morphou, Kitium and Kyrenia cites eight charges against Chrysanthos, who has been named in numerous allegations of fraudulent business deals at home and abroad.
In the indictment, the bishops say Chrysanthos accepted, without a letter of recommendation, the word of a priest abroad that he was, in fact, a cleric.
Also, said the indictment, on the pretext of philanthropic motives, the bishop allegedly took advantage of his ecclesiastical position and put in danger his moral standing by associating with suspect persons for his own profit. Likewise, he acted for his own benefits to secure profits through currency exchange, the indictment said.
The good name of the Limassol Bishopric was also allegedly endangered by Chrysanthos’ use of the holy seal and his own position to sign documents for deals and act as a guarantor for loans.
The indictment also refers to a trip Chrysanthos took to the Philippines several months ago, where he is accused of suddenly coming into possession of assets worth $170 million.
He also damaged relations with the Russian Orthodox Church by using the best part of $719,000 donated by Moscow for purposes other than the planned building of a Russian Church in Limassol, the indictment said.
The bishops also said that Chrysanthos had failed to inform the Holy Synod about a series of financial deals involving millions of dollars. The publicity generated by his activities here and abroad, and the resulting scandal, has damaged the Church, the indictment concluded.
The three bishops, appointed as an investigation committee on October 1, have the power to refer Chrysanthos to an ecclesiastical court for defrocking procedures to begin. Criminal investigations are also under way, with investigators examining Chrysanthos’ alleged overseas dealings in quick-profit investment scams.
In October, Attorney-general Alecos Markides said investigations had been completed in Greece and would soon be starting in England and a possible third country.
The Church became suspicious over the bishop’s business deals when Scotland Yard detectives came to Cyprus in the summer to question Chrysanthos in connection with a conspiracy to defraud involving a UK-based investor and $3.7 million.
