At 10.00 in the morning, the extraordinary meeting of the Holy Synod began, during which decisions on the procedures of the archdiocesan elections are expected to be taken, after the passing away of Chrysostomos II.
Specifically, as reported by alphanews.live, decisions will be taken regarding the way and date that the Archdiocesan elections will take place, the most prevalent being January 8, a month before the Presidential elections.
However, the members of the Holy Synod may raise the issue of influence and the risk of political interference in the elections.
Among other things, the Synod is expected to be concerned about the size of the electorate and the possibility of changing the voting method and drawing up regular ballots.
The archdiocesan elections will be the first to be held with the new Charter of the Church of Cyprus, adopted in 2010.
Under the statute, the final election of the triprosopon must be completed within 40 days after the archdiocesan throne has been vacated.
“There are some deadlines given by the statute, but these can be overcome if there are problems, which need to be addressed, “Metropolitan George of Paphos said, noting that this is the first time that this statute has been used for the creation of voter lists and elections.
After all, the theologian Theodore Kyriakou had stated that after the funeral of the Archbishop two encyclicals will be sent by the locum tenens, one to the priests to draw up the electoral lists, while the other will determine the date of the election for the triprosopon nomination by the flock. The final selection of the triprosopon must be completed within 40 days, he added.
As he explained, the locum tenens is in charge of the elections and he is the one who will send the two encyclicals, after agreeing with the Synodal priests when the vote will take place.
According to Kyriakou, after the vote, there is a period of three days for objections, which within five days will be reviewed and the situation will be clarified in order to announce the triprosopon, ie the results of the elections, with the three winners. Within three days of their election, the Holy Synod will elect the new Archbishop.
Kyriakou added that in order for an Archbishop to be elected, he must obtain an absolute majority of the members of the Holy Synod. If there is no majority, then there is a second vote with the two candidates who were the majority of the three, and whoever receives the most votes is elected Archbishop. “If there is a tie in it, then there is a draw between the two,” said Kyriakou.
All Orthodox Christians who have lived in Cyprus for a year, whether they are nationals of the Republic of Cyprus or not, have the right to vote. Kyriakou said that voters will get a paper with the stamp of the election committee to write the name of the person of their preference.
In order to be valid, he added, it should be clearly stated what the voter’s choice is, while the person they choose must be over 35 years of age, be single, have a theology degree, and have 10 years of service in the Church of Cyprus.
