Cyprus prepares to elect new Archbishop

Just about half of the Greek Cypriot population went to the polls Sunday to start the final process to elect a next Archbishop, after incumbent Chrysostomos was declared unfit following a major stroke three years ago.

Just over 50% of the registered members of the Greek Cypriot Orthodox Church cast their votes to elect 1400 representatives who will choose 100 electors and together with the island’s clergy will elect the new archbishop next month.

Four candidates are challenging the throne, with Bishop Nikiphoros of the wealthy Kykkos Monastery supported by the island’s leading political parties, the favourite.

His main rival is Bishop Athanassios of Limassol, while the other two are the Acting Archbishop, Bishop Chrysostomos of Paphos and Bishop Chrysostomos of Larnaca.

The Paphos bishop told reporters after the polling stations at churches and school closed at 18.00 local time said that the turnout in rural areas was closer to 60%, and that the same turnout was recorded during all previous elections in the past century.

“Even Archbishop Makarios, this great personality and statesman, was elected with 18% of the vote but was supported by 98% of the Cypriot people when he left,” the bishop said.

Makarios led the Greek Cypriot struggle for independence from British rule in 1955 to 1955 and was elected president of the new island republic in 1960, a post he held until he died from a heart attack in 1977.

His successor, Chrysostomos, was unopposed and became Archbishop in 1978.