Paphos, Cyprus. Archbishop Georgios said the new statute of the Church of Cyprus is expected to be ready after Easter, with work on statutory changes continuing. He said the revision is intended to simplify procedures.
Timeline and committee work
Speaking after a church service at the Metropolitan Church of Ayios Theodoros during a visit to Paphos, the Archbishop said a committee has been appointed and changes are being made, describing the task as a major undertaking. He said the process is expected to take another two to three months and that the statute should be ready immediately after Easter. He added that the committee includes three university academics working with the synod’s legal and canonical committee.
Implementation and the vacant Metropolis of Paphos
The Archbishop said that once revisions are completed, new procedures will be implemented, stressing that the most urgent matter is filling the vacant Holy Metropolis of Paphos. Asked how long the overall process would take, he said that once the statute is finalised, procedures would be straightforward, with nominations submitted and the Holy Synod convened, and that it would not take long.
Scope of the review
Asked whether the changes concern only election procedures or extend to other issues, the Archbishop said the review is comprehensive and also αφορά judicial procedures. He said a revision is needed and that the existence of too many details and the presence of lawyers within the Synod is something that does not occur in other churches and should be avoided. Asked whether this was due to concerns about causing scandal among the faithful or whether it had been deemed necessary, he said such practices were needed but did not contribute to anything, adding that procedures would be simplified.
What changes to the Church of Cyprus statute do you want to see clarified once the revisions are published?
