The President of the Republic, Mr Nicos Anastasiades, accompanied by his wife Mrs Andri Anastasiades, went to the Church of St Nektarios in Limassol at 10 am today, where he exercised his right to vote for the Archbishop Elections.
Then, in his statements to reporters, President Anastasiades, when asked how he would like to be the next Archbishop, said that "each Archbishop is also the spiritual leader of the country, for the Greek Orthodox. Therefore, of the good, I hope that the best will be elected."
Asked to say whether he was sure of his choice beforehand, the President of the Republic said that "I had crystallized an opinion, an opinion. I live in this place, I experience our prelates. I repeat in good faith that the best will be elected."
In response to a journalist's remark that he would not have the opportunity to work with the new Archbishop, since his term of office will end soon, the President of the Republic said that "I will have the opportunity, I believe, at the enthronement to be."
Asked if at the enthronement he will send his own messages about what is expected of the new Archbishop, the President of the Republic said that "the role of the Church is a historical role, it is a spiritual role, it is a social role, it includes everything that the love of God teaches."
Asked if this role is not political, the President replied "no, I do not think that in modern times the Church can be involved in politics. It has, of course, always had and will have a point of view, especially on national issues. In politics it is now clearly a matter of the democratic freedoms of the people, of the institutions as defined in each State, and therefore I do not see the political role of the Church with regard to events in the State."
(PM/MG)
Contents of this article including associated images are owned by PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source
