Source: Cyprus Mail EVIE ANDREOU A proselytising bishop accused of leading a ‘recruitment ring’ to entrap the young has doubled the number of monks and nuns over the last two decades, a group representing parents furious that they have lost their children to the church claimed this week. According to the Association of Friends and Relatives of Monks, there is now one monk per 1,000 people in Cyprus while monasteries have almost doubled since the early 1990s. A member of the association, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Sunday Mail that according to the archbishopric’s own data, there are…
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Source: Pravoslavie.ru Cypriot LGBT “rights group” ACCEPT has labeled Archbishop Chrysostomos as hateful, and is calling for his recent comments on the desire to create schools aimed at instilling children with traditional, Orthodox morality to be investigated, reports The Cyprus Weekly. In an interview with the MEGAONE television station the archbishop revealed that the Church is contemplating creating its own school system, with nurseries, elementary, middle and high schools being created over the next several years. The primate correctly identified homosexuality as “an aberrance and a sin,” saying “It is not something normal. It is unnatural.” In this light he…
Source: The National Herald By Associated Press NICOSIA — The best man slapped the groom on the back, which is an old Cypriot wedding custom. The priest punching the best man would be an innovation. But Cyprus police said Monday they are investigating an allegation that this happened at a wedding over the weekend. Police say the victim —the groom’s 22-year-old brother — was taken to a hospital but wasn’t seriously hurt and that his family filed a complaint. A family member — speaking on condition of anonymity because the investigation is continuing — said the priest had initially gestured…
Source: The National Herald BY CONSTANTINE S. SIRIGOS NEW YORK – Amidst a busy schedule during her recent visit to New York, the First Lady of the Republic of Cyprus Andri Anastasiades experienced the love and warmth generated by a special program of music and poety and time spent time with the students, staff and supporters of the day school of the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. Dean of the Cathedral Fr. John Vlahos expressed his joy over the visit, which included a tour of the Cathedral School, and institution which emerged from difficulties of a few years past…
Source: The Cyprus Weekly Saturday’s pilgrimage to the Hala Sultan Mosque in Larnaca by more than 1,000 Turkish Cypriots proves the island’s two communities can co-exist peacefully, Turkish Cypriot religious leader, the Mufti of Cyprus, Talip Atalay has said. Speaking after morning prayers at the mosque, he thanked everybody who helped make the pilgrimage possible, in particular the head of the Greek Orthodox church Archbishop Chrysostomos and the Swedish embassy here. “Today’s pilgrimage proves that people of different faith can coexist and live peacefully in the same area with tolerance,” he said, noting that Islam advocates peace. He also said…
by John Kaloudis I was dismayed to read the following in the recent issue of the Orthodox Observer: “Biden touched on three subjects that are at the core of the issues of greatest concern to Greek Orthodox Christians; the relationship between the United States and Greece, religious freedom, especially for the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Christians in Turkey and the Cyprus question.” If these are the core issues of the GOA, the GOA has abandoned the core principles as prescribed by Jesus in the New Testament. I do not expect VP Biden to understand and/or promote the core issues prescribed for the…
Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America NEW YORK – On the invitation of the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Nikos Anastasiades, and with the unanimous agreement of the Holy Synod of the Church of Cyprus, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America will embark on an official visit to Cyprus, October 20-27, 2014. During his visit, Archbishop Demetrios will meet with His Excellency the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Nikos Anastasiades, His Beatitude Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus, and governmental, academic and institutional officials. His Eminence will also visit holy historic sites and philanthropic institutions. [subscribe2]
Source: France 24 (AFP) Cyprus’s wealthy Orthodox Church stands to lose more than 100 million euros in the bailout deal reached with international creditors early Monday, its leader Archbishop Chrysostomos said. “The capital owned by the Church, which was over 100 million euros, has been lost,” the archbishop told reporters. “There will be many difficulties, some will lose their jobs, the hungry will be multiplied and the Church has to take care of people,” he added. The church has substantial shareholdings on the island, including in the banks at the centre of the drastic financial sector cuts imposed by the…
Source: CBS News [NICOSIA, CYPRUS] The head of Cyprus’ influential Orthodox church, Archbishop Chrysostomos II, says he will put the church’s assets at the country’s disposal to help pull it out of a financial crisis, after lawmakers rejected a plan to seize up to 10 percent of people’s bank deposits to secure an international bailout. Speaking after meeting President Nicos Anastasiades Wednesday, Chrysostomos said the church was willing to mortgage its assets to invest in government bonds. The church has considerable wealth, including property, stakes in a bank and a brewery. Tuesday’s rejection of the deposit tax has left the…
Source: The National Herald Theodore Kalmoukos BOSTON, MA – His Beatitude Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus told TNH that he blamed the current Cypriot government of Demetris Christofias for the economic crisis as well as the political dead ends. “I believe that the government didn’t do its duty. It let things to roll over on their own.” Chrysostomos added that “I can tell you that the government worked negatively and that is why we have come to this point. At any rate now, it’s leaving in two months and we are going to have a new government.” The prelate revealed that…
Source: The National Herald NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — The leader of Cyprus’ Orthodox Christian Church said Tuesday that senior clergy and staff earning over €2,000 ($2,460) a month are in for salary cuts as the island nation’s ongoing financial crisis has seen church revenue dwindle. Archbishop Chrysostomos II said the church’s top decision-making body, the Holy Synod, will convene early next month to enact the cuts. He said his own salary as well as that of bishops and other high-income church employees will be the first to be cut in order to “set the good example.” “Church income…has dropped and…
Source: Taiwan News The leader of Cyprus’ Orthodox Christian church and Israel’s chief rabbi have signed a joint declaration aimed at forging closer bonds between the two countries’ citizens. Archbishop Chrysostomos II and Rabbi Yonah Metzger signed the declaration in the Cypriot capital Tuesday. Chrysostomos said the initiative is aimed at ending any “hostility or suspicion” that had “poisoned” Cypriot-Israeli relations in the past. Metzger said Cyprus and Israel are partners and share a similar history. He says the declaration can help improve cooperation. The declaration comes amid blossoming ties between the east Mediterranean neighbors. The two countries are in…