Chrysostomos Α΄, Archbishop of Cyprus

Archbishop Chrysostomos was born in the village Statos of the Pafos district on the 27th of September 1927 and he passed away on the 22nd of December 2007.  His secular name was Christoforos.  A child of a poor, rural family, he first received education in the elementary school of his village, from which he graduated in 1940.  Right after that he entered the "Panagia tou Kykkou" monastery as a novice, serving there for the next 6 years and at the same time attending classes in the monastery's school. 

In 1946 he was sent to study in the Pan-Cyprian Gymnasium and graduated In 1950 and was appointed secretary of his monastery's board.  On the 18th of February 1951 he was ordained a deacon, receiving the name Chrysostomos. 

In 1952 he was sent to Athens for higher learning.  He attended courses of the Philosophical and Theological Schools in the University of Athens, from which he graduated in 1961.  In the meantime, Chrysostomos had assumed the administration of the Ethnarchy's  offices in Athens since 1957.

He returned to Cyprus and was appointed as a Preacher by the "Kykkos" monastery.  On the 29th of October 1961 he was ordained a Presbyter and later on an Archimandrite (Dean).  From 1961 until 1966 he worked as a professor of theology in the Pan-Cyprian Gymnasium and in the "Apostle Varnavas" Hieratic School.

In 1966 he went to England for postgraduate studies and to learn the English language.  In 1968 he returned to Cyprus and on the 14th of April 1968 he was ordained as the Suffragan Bishop of Constantia.

Chrysostomos decisively stood by the side of Archbishop Makarios during the critical period of 1971-1973.  In 1973 Archbishop Makarios declared elections for the Episcopate of Pafos's district and Chrysostomos was -by acclamation -elected as the Bishop of Pafos on the 28th of July 1973, being enthroned the next day.

After the 1974 coup d'etat and Makarios's escape to England, Chrysostomos started a struggle so as to achieve the return of Makarios.  Makarios returned to Cyprus on the 7th of December 1974. 

After Archbishop Makarios died on the 3rd of August 1977, Chrysostomos assumed the vacant archbishopric throne as Deputy.  On the 12th of November 1977 he was unanimously elected Archbishop of Cyprus and was enthroned the next day.            

As the Suffragan Bishop of Constantia he participated in various expeditions abroad.  As the Archbishop he took part in many ecclesiastical conventions in Cyprus and abroad and represented the Church of Cyprus in international events.

More Information for Archbishop Chrysostomos A΄:
http://www.churchofcyprus.org.cy/biop.pdf