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New archbishop outlines priorities

Paphos bishop Georgios, archbishop, archbishopric
Archbishop Georgios (Photo: Christos Theodorides)

The new Archbishop Georgios will follow the line of late Archbishop Chrysostomos on the Cyprus problem, he said in an interview on Saturday.

“Our views are aligned, meaning we should seek out all the human rights that European citizens enjoy.” By this, Georgios meant free movement across Cyprus, the opportunity to live anywhere on the island and that every person can have a vote rather than having the Turkish Cypriots, just 18 per cent of the population, rule 82 per cent.

He added his election symbolises a continuation of the church’s current stance on Ukraine, with the votes of the Holy Synod in his favour suggesting the support to the Ukraine autocephalous church.

In his tenure as archbishop, Georgios said his priorities include standing by the side of every person that needs the church. This would mean supporting large families and offering incentives that can tackle birth deficits.

The church will financially support people wishing to have three or four children, and ensure they can maintain a quality of life, he said.

Georgios added the church will continue its social and charitable efforts, while it will continue to support the national issue, so as to achieve a proper solution to the Cyprus problem.

The archbishop added he will guide society over the changes that come with technological developments and help find solutions to tackle the youth straying away from the church. He will do this through the holy scriptures, he said.

“We will not alter the spirituality of beliefs of the church, but improve the ways in which they are shared.”

Asked if the Holy Synod was united, he said this was obvious from the majority of the bishops that voted for him.

He highlighted that even those who voted for Limassol bishop Athanasios said they would work with Georgios for the good of the church.

The archbishop will be enthroned on January 8 and after that will begin the procedure of electing a new Paphos bishop, his previous position.

 

 

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