Filenews 14 November 2022
The Synod has now clarified the landscape of the promotion of the procedures for the election of a new Primate at the helm of the Church of Cyprus.
The extraordinary session of the Holy Synod, which was convened at 10.00 in the morning, decided the exact timetables that will be set for the development of the whole process.
According to statements by the archbishop of the Archdiocesan Throne, Metropolitan George of Pafos, the date of the archdiocesan elections for the appointment of the "three-party" by the people has been locked for Sunday, December 18, 2022. If there are insurmountable difficulties, the Holy Synod will meet for a change of date.
Secondly, following an amendment to the charter, a ballot paper with photographs and names of candidates will be created.
Third, interested parties will submit their candidacy on 22 November 2022.
Fourthly, government officials will preside over the polling stations, in the presence of representatives of the candidates.
Fifth, the Holy Synod entrusted the responsibility for the preparation of the electoral rolls and the preparation of the elections to Ioannis Charilaou, director of the Central Ecclesiastical Fund. In addition, the Holy Synod decided on the procedure to be followed, in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior, in order to resolve any problems that may arise, in relation to the establishment of an electoral list. According to Pafos Georgios, this will happen by removing non-Orthodox Christians from the electoral list of the Ministry of Interior and by adding to it foreign Orthodox by submitting the required supporting documents.
