The head of the Autocephalous Church of Cyprus, Archbishop Chrysostomos II, has died aged 81 after a long battle with cancer.

According to an announcement from his doctors, the Archbishop passed away peacefully at 6.40am on Monday. “The Archbishop fell peacefully asleep after facing the test of his illness with courage, patience and Christian determination,” the statement said.

“What those of us who were close to him experienced during the difficult hours of his illness, was his humility, the kindness of his soul and his profound faith as well as his concern for his flock. He leaves behind a work characterized by foresight, boldness, highlighting and respecting and restoring the Church’s historical tradition along with innovative changes, always seeking the harmony and unity of the Church. What we will remember will always be with us is his honesty, kindness, kindness and smile,” noted the statement

A session of the Holy Synod is expected to convene within the day.

Early life

He was born in 1941 in the village of Tala in Pafos. Immediately after primary education, he became a novitiate monk at the Holy Monastery of Agios Neophytos and then attended the Paphos High School. He graduated from high school in 1963 and on November 3 of the same year was ordained a deacon. In 1968, he began his studies at the Theological School of the University of Athens, from where he graduated in 1972. On October 19 of the same year, he was unanimously elected abbot of the Monastery of Agios Neophytos, he was ordained elder and installed as abbot on November 12 by Archbishop Makarios III.

Archbishop

Chrysostomos II was enthroned as Archbishop in November 2006 after a contentious election campaign. He was known to have outspoken views on many issues from how the Church was run, to the Cyprus issue. He also weighed in unabashedly on social issues like homosexuality, gay adoption rights and abortion, often causing major controversies.

He always described himself as a realist and saw no reason to seek out popularity.

Born Herodotos Demetriou on April 10, 1941 in Tala, Paphos he lost his father at the age of ten.

After finishing primary school, two years later, he became a novice at the Ayios Neophytos Monastery in Paphos from where he continued his education, graduating high school in 1963.

On November 3 that year, he was ordained by Bishop Georgios of Trimithounda and for the next five years, he was a deacon at the monastery and working there, where he picked up a flair for business dealings. In 1968, he began tertiary studies in theology at the University of Athens, graduating in 1972. On October 19, 1972, he was elected abbot at Ayios Neophytos.

In February 1978, Chrysostomos was elected Bishop of Paphos, which threw him into the public eye.

Following the retirement of Archbishop Chrysostomos I in 2006 due to Alzheimer’s, Chrysostomos was named locum tenens until his election as Archbishop on November 5, 2006. He was enthroned a week later on November 12 at St Nicholas Cathedral in Nicosia.