Head of Cyprus Orthodox Church begins visit to Russia

15.07.2008, 10.51

MOSCOW, July 15 (Itar-Tass) - The head of the Cyprus Orthodox Church, Beautified Archbishop of New Justiniana and All Cyprus Chrysostomus II begins his visit to the Russian Orthodox Church on Tuesday. The visit will continue through July 20.

The press service of the Moscow Patriarchate said the visit of Chrysostomus II to Russia is the first since his election as the head off the Cyprus Orthodox Church.

The future bishop was born in the village of Tala near the city of Pafos.

After graduation from secondary school, he went to the Neophyte Monastery as a novice.

He graduated from the lyceum in Pafos on 1963 and was ordained as a dean. In 1968, he studied at the theology faculty of Athens University from which he graduated in 1972. He was ordained as presbyter and raised to the rank of hegumen by Archbishop Macarius III.

He was elected Metropolitan of Pafos in February 1978. The Metropolitan of Pafos acted as the custodian of the Archiepiscopal Throne since September of 2006 after Archbishop Chrysostomus I was invalidated by age, head injury and Alzheimer disease in 2002.

Chrysostomus II was elected archbishop of New Justiniana and All Cyprus on November 5, 2006. His enthronization took place on November 12, 2006.

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