The Holy Synod of the Church of Cyprus elected today with a wide majority the Metropolitan of Paphos Georgios as the new Archbishop. George ensured 11 votes against 4 of the Metropolitan of Limassol Athanasios. One member of the Holy Synod voted white.
With the election of George, the issue of the confrontation on the issue of the autocephalous Church of Ukraine is finally closed, as the new Archbishop is firmly on the side of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The number of Metropolitans who supported the positions of the Moscow Patriarchate has shrunk and in reality the issue of Ukraine cannot come back before the Holy Synod of the Church of Cyprus.
The new Archbishop of Cyprus George, signed and ratified the minutes of the Holy Synod for his election. In his message which was short, he thanked the people and the Synod members for his election and asked for enlightenment to satisfy the expectations of the Church of Cyprus. He then left the old cathedral of Agios Ioannis in Nicosia with bells ringing and the faithful shouting "worthy".
Who is the new Archbishop of Cyprus?
The new Archbishop of Cyprus George was born in the village of Athianou on 25 May 1949.
The 1967 graduated from Pangyprio High School. As a scholarship holder of the State Scholarship Foundation, he studied Chemistry at the University of Athens (1968-1972). In Athens he also studied Theology from 1976 until the 1980. He then took a Masters in Chemistry and Theology at a British University.
At 23 December 1984 was ordained a Deacon and on 17 Of March 1985 Elder and then Archimandrite. The 1994 assumed the duties of Secretary of the Holy Synod.
He worked in public schools as a Chemistry teacher.
The 1989, he had been arrested and abused by the Turks during an anti-occupation demonstration.
At 24 April 1996 was elected Chorebishop of Arsinois and on 29 December 2006 Metropolitan of Paphos.
He represents the Church of Cyprus in the Pan-Orthodox Conferences and in the dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church. He is also the president of the Bioethics and Education committee of the Holy Synod.