Paphos bishop calls on faithful to vote in Sunday’s elections

As elections for the next prelate of the church draw near, the six main candidates and the church are preparing for Sunday’s vote, with the custodian of the throne Paphos Bishop Georgios on Thursday calling on people to go out and vote for the selection of the triumvirate.

On Sunday a total of 942 polling stations will be opened in the holy metropolises of Cyprus, which are areas within the central Nicosia archdiocese of Cyprus, the holy metropolises of Paphos, Kiti, Kyrenia, Limassol, Morphou, Constantia and Famagusta, Kykkos and Tyllirias, Tamassos, and Trimithounda-Lefkara.

In Nicosia a total of 199 centres will operate, in Paphos a total of 136, Kiti 121, Kyrenia 7, Limassol 253, Morphou 45, Constantia-Famagusta 50, Kykkos-Tylliria 4, Tamassos 74, and Trimithounda-Lefkara 53.

The centres that people will be able to vote in can be found at https://poupsifizis.cy.net/. Some of the centres will be opened at churches after service on Sunday.

Elections will take place from 10am-12pm, with a break at 1pm, and then continue 2pm until 6pm, commissioner for the archbishopric elections Ioannis Charilaou said.

In statements on Thursday, Bishop Georgios, who is the custodian of the archbishop’s throne until a new one is selected, called on people to go vote.

Among his main goals is the efficient, fair and forward-looking administration of the Church of Cyprus and its worthy representation in the Orthodox community, but also to continue to ensure that the Church of Cyprus remains close to the patriarchate in Constantinople.

In addition, he referred to strengthening the number and quality of the clergy of the church by making use of the seminary school and the financial support of families with many children, giving them incentives to overcome the low birth rate.

He added that it is important to strengthen the charitable and social work with help to all metropolises, to the poor, to patients seeking treatment abroad, to struggling and single-parent families, and to couples whose finances do not allow them to have a third or even fourth child.

Georgios also said that among his goals are the strengthening of the cooperation between the church and the education ministry to safeguard Greek Christian ideals.

He also recommends strengthening communication with young people, as well as expanding support for young people, needy students with scholarships and the creation of Student Centres in cities with universities.

President Nicos Anastasiades will be voting in Sunday’s elections for the selection of the triumvirate that will then face off for the seat of the prelate.

Anastasiades will be voting at 10am at the church of Ayios Nektarios in Limassol.

Commenting on the entire process, Charilaou said that there will be 942 presiding officers in the polling stations, another 2,500 assistants will work at the stations, and hundreds more will work to support the general election commissioner and the commissioners by district.

In a related question, Charilaou said that the districts are divided up as identified by the church, which are Holy Archdiocese of Cyprus in Nicosia and the holy metropolises, as in this case they are holding the elections.

Some of the metropolis, like Karpasia, Amathus, and Arisinois will be included with other bigger metropolises, as is the case for Amathus, which will be included in Limassol, Arsinois, which will be included and Karpasia, whose voters will go to the primary school in Vrysoulles to vote.

The six main candidates for the elections are Limassol Athanasios, Paphos Georgios, Constantia-Famagusta Vasilios, Tamassos Isaias, Morphou Neofytos, and Kyrenia Chrysostomos.

In polls, Limassol Athanasios has been the frontrunner in the popular vote on Sunday.

Following the vote the Holy Synod’s, 16 members will convene for a second round of voting, which should select the next prelate.