Cyprus Church picks theologian and chemistry instructor as new chief By Reuters

NICOSIA (Reuters) – The Church of Cyprus’s ruling physique on Saturday elected Georgios, a theologian and former chemistry instructor, as Archbishop of the centuries-old Church, changing the late Chrysostomos II.

Georgios, 73, will lead the Greek Orthodox Church, which has broad political and social affect on the east Mediterranean island and pursuits from actual property investments to companies.

Having learn chemistry in Greece and Britain and later taught at excessive colleges, Georgios was elected by a majority on the 16-member Holy Synod.

Custodian of the Church since Chrysostomos’s loss of life, Georgios was near the late Archbishop, who notably recognised the independence of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine from Russia.

It’s one in every of a handful of Orthodox Church buildings worldwide to take action, though it triggered a rift inside its ranks.

The choice course of was amongst three frontrunners from a Dec. 18 public vote. Georgios got here second in that vote, trailing by a large margin behind Athanasios of Limassol.

Athanasios, considered as ultra-conservative by detractors however enlightened by supporters, additionally topped the general public vote within the final Archbishop elections in 2006, however was edged out then by manoeuvring from different clerics.