Archbishop ‘a bit better’

Archbishop Chrysostomos II is doing a bit better on Thursday, his personal doctor Joseph Kashios said, following days of the prelate’s condition fluctuating as he deals with intestinal cancer.

“His condition is stable, I can say that he is a bit better today,” Kashios said.

The archbishop is staying at his residence in the archbishopric for his treatment and has not been seen in public in weeks.

Kashios said that a full statement will be released on the archbishop’s health later in the day.

In previous days, the archbishop’s health has been reported to be getting worse, prompting the Patriarch of Jerusalem Theofilos III to visit him on Wednesday.

Earlier on Wednesday, his personal doctor Joseph Kashios had said that Archbishop Chrysostomos’ condition was stable, but a deterioration is a ‘natural progression of things’.

Kashios said that the archbishop will not be moved from the archbishopric.

Meanwhile, the media have been heavily reporting on who the successor to the archbishop will be, with six main candidates up for the seat.

In comments to Sigma TV, the theologian Theodoros Kyriacou said that the six main choices for his succession are: Limassol Bishop Athanasios, Tamasos Bishop Isaias, Paphos Bishop Georgios, Constantia Bishop Vasilios, Morphou Bishop Neophytos and Karpasia Bishop Christoforos.

According to Kyriacou, the shoe-ins for the ballot are Limassol and Tamasos, and questions remain on who the third candidate will be.

In the event of death, or irrevocable incapacitation, or when an archbishop is found to be of unsound mind, the throne is declared vacant, and a caretaker appointed. In Cyprus, the caretaker is always the Bishop of Paphos – no matter how many years he has served.

Forty days after the throne is declared vacant, elections are held for a new archbishop, the process overseen by the caretaker.