Filenews 17 April 2022 - by Vassos Vassiliou
The history of the succession of the current Primate of the Church of Cyprus to the archdiocesan throne, as well as during the period of the succession of the previous Archbishop, when the race began while he was still alive, as is the case today. The election campaign, whether some people acknowledge it or whistle indifferently, is already underway. In fact, the theologian Theodoros Kyriakou, who has been following the church's affairs for years, believes that this election campaign will be tougher than the election of a new President of the Republic. He talks about the potential contenders, he names the two hierarchs who will advance to the second round, as well as the other two who will fight to occupy the third place to create the three-faced ballot paper which will be put before the members of the Holy Synod which will elect the new Archbishop.
Although the Archbishop himself has made it clear that he will remain on the throne until the end, Mr. Kyriakou believes that he will resign, launching his succession as a hierarch of his trust. He refers to possible scenarios of bypassing the people, which he believes would be tantamount to an ecclesiastical coup d'état and speaks of the intervention of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
In addition to the archdiocesan, it cauterizes the action of "elders", who attempt to create some form of lay monks within society. It refers to fanaticism and generally considers the phenomenon dangerous.
Finally, in view of the proximity of the Orthodox Easter, it "sheds light" on the Holy Light, denying that it is a miracle, while claiming that the lighting of candles in the Holy Sepulchre is due to a ceremony rather than a miracle. In fact, he cites testimony from the time of Archbishop Makarios, when Makarios asked representatives of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem if it was a miracle, in order to receive an answer that clarified things.
The views of Theodoros Kyriakou are not gospels, nor does he consider that what he says is the only truth and besides, it is only a matter of time before it is clear whether or not his assessments will be verified. Some may disagree but he has an opinion that he expresses and is put to the judgment of everyone.
Archbishop Chrysostomos, seeing various movements of synodals, believes that the struggle for his succession has already begun and even considers what is happening to be disrespectful, going so far as to say that he is still alive.
Due to the deterioration of the Archbishop's health, the staffs began to operate long ago. Even the Archbishop himself is engaged, even if he criticizes other Synodals for engaging in an election campaign.
-In recent times there has been an intervention by the Ecumenical Patriarchate, as you yourself mentioned, through a canonist who is close to the Patriarchate, in order to bypass the people so that they do not vote in the elections, whenever they are held.
-The timing of the intervention of the close associate of the Patriarch, I believe, was not accidental, just as it was no coincidence that the positions he expressed coincide with those of the Archbishop. Considering that the Church of Cyprus is Autocephalous, the Ecumenical Patriarchate cannot interfere in its internal affairs, even in the indirect way it did so.
-You had made reference to the bypassing of the people in order to serve a hierarch who is close to the Archbishop.
-The Charter is clear and provides for a process whose result leads to the election of an Archbishop. What the Archbishop invented, after the sinking of the scenario that provided for the gathering of the support of about 13 Synodals in order to initiate the election of the new Archbishop exclusively by the Synod, concerns the invocation of Article 7.3 of the Statute. This article provides that the competent body for interpreting the Charter is the Holy Synod. On this basis, an attempt can be made to decide to exclude the people from the vote by claiming that this is irregular.
-Can this article be invoked?
-I think not, because it is used for issues that contain ambiguity, so the Synod draws up regulations to solve the problems that arise. However, in the case of elections there is no ambiguity and the Statute is clear. Nor is the position taken by the associate of the Ecumenical Patriarch, namely that the participation of the people in the elections is irregular (based on the Canons) valid.
