The archbishop’s comments on the presidential election – where he accused Akel of being British stooges has led to widespread reaction, with some condemning him as anachronistic.
In a wide-ranging interview with daily Politis over the weekend, Archbishop Chrysostomos praised presidential candidate Nikos Christodoulides as being the only person since Makarios to have garnered popular support, even offering advice on how to campaign.
He further stirred the pot by stating that President Nicos Anastasiades’ children support Christodoulides, adding that it will be difficult for Disy candidate Averof Neophytou to make it to the second round.
Neophytou responded soon after, stating that the head of the Church of Cyprus has every right as a citizen of the nation to express his opinion, but emphasised that Disy was founded to counter the “populist methods and practices” of the Makarios era.
Former Greens party leader George Perdikis on Monday criticised the archbishop’s public statements as anachronistic, saying: “No, as the archbishop he does not have the right to get involved with such issues” – further referring to the phrase ‘render unto Caesar’.
Elsewhere, the archbishop claimed that those on the political left are British stooges to which Akel said that such comments do not even warrant a response.
And while the archbishop’s interview over the weekend focused on the politics among the parties, a part two on Monday further revealed the political infighting within the church.
The archbishop’s grievances reported on by Politis were centred on the ongoing rift within the church over his recognition of the independence of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
He dismissed the bishops who disagreed with his move as protestants, further saying that they have no place in the Church of Cyprus.
Archbishop Chrysostomos even hinted that there may be financial considerations behind their stance, referring to a church built by a Russian for Bishop Isaias of Tamassos.
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