Archbishop Chrysostomos II, the outspoken leader of Cyprus’ Greek Orthodox Church died overnight at the age of 81, it was announced early on Monday.
Chrysostomos had suffered from liver cancer and had spent his final days at the church’s headquarters in the capital of Nicosia.
Chrysostomos II was enthroned as Archbishop in November 2006 after a contentious election campaign.
Born Herodotos Demetriou on April 10, 1941 in Tala, Paphos he lost his father at the age of ten.
After finishing primary school, two years later, he became a novice at the Ayios Neophytos Monastery in Paphos from where he continued his education, graduating high school in 1963.
On November 3 that year, he was ordained by Bishop Georgios of Trimithounda. And for the next five years, he was a deacon at the monastery.
In 1968, he began tertiary studies in theology at the University of Athens, graduating in 1972. On October 19,1972, he was elected abbot at Ayios Neophytos.
In February 1978, Chrysostomos was elected Bishop of Paphos and years later he became the island’s top cleric.
