Chrysostomos II of Cyprus

Chrysostomos II (; born Irodotos Dimitriou; Greek: Ηρόδοτος Δημητρίου; 10 April 1941 – 7 November 2022) was the Archbishop of Cyprus from 2006 to 2022.

Clerical career Chrysostomos was born in the village of Tala, Paphos, British Cyprus. At the age of 10 his father died, and two years later, after finishing his elementary education, he joined the monastery of Ayios Neophytos in Paphos. He also attended Paphos Gymnasium, graduating in 1963. He stated that his support to ELAM included, but was not limited to the issues of immigration. This statement came months before a legislative election and after ELAM attacks on Turkish Cypriots and civilians they perceived as foreign, resulting in accusations of political interference by Cyprus Mail. He further called ELAM members "educated persons who are sincerely interested in their country". This approach of Chrysostomos II has contributed to the legitimization of far-right views in society. Furthermore, he expressed his satisfaction after ELAM entered the Cypriot parliament in the 2016 legislative election. He has opposed illegal immigration into Cyprus, branding illegal immigrants as 'interlopers who do not belong on the island'. In another remark, he said "I would even back a black man, if we had the same views"; this remark was criticised by Operation Black Vote as blatant racism.

In 2014 he called for politicians to condemn homosexuality and claimed governments demonstrated 'weakening moral integrity' by introducing civil partnerships and same-sex marriage. His comments were attacked by Cypriot MEP Andreas Pitsillides as 'racist and homophobic' and stated 'I emphatically stress these are clearly against the spirit of the Gospel of love of Christ and certainly violate all European and international treaties protecting human rights against any form of discrimination based on race, gender, religion and sexual orientation'. Another MEP, Ulrike Lunacek, claimed the Orthodox Church was 'detached from reality'. In 2016, he announced church plans to establish schools that would teach children that homosexuality is unnatural, a sin and should be overcome through struggle. He further said that the schools were aimed at giving children "principles" and raising "proper people". These remarks were met with the anger of LGBT rights organizations.

Chrysostomos II was received in a historic private audience with Pope Benedict XVI in the Vatican, on 16 June 2007. Their discussions involved the safety of Christians in the Middle East as a result of an ongoing political tension between warring countries. They had another meeting on 28 March 2011.

On 20 March 2013, it was reported that Chrysostomos II said he would put the Cyprus Orthodox Church's assets at the country's disposal to help pull the country out of its financial crisis. He said the church was willing to mortgage its assets to invest in government bonds.

On 12 July 2020, The primate of the Church of Cyprus, Archbishop Chrysostomos II expressed his opinions regarding the reversion of the Hagia Sophia museum to a mosque stating that "The Turks have remained uncivilized, they are rude, and they will remain [this way]." He added that "Turkey has learned to destroy, it has learned to appropriate the cultures of others and sometimes, when it does not benefit it, it destroys them and falsely presents cultures as its own."

Scandals It was reported that Chrysostomos II was instrumental in Malaysian conman and fugitive, Jho Low, being granted Cypriot citizenship. Chrysostomos II reportedly had sent at least two letters to then Minister of Interior, Sokratis Hasikos, asking for Low to be granted citizenship.

Death Archbishop Chrysostomos II died from liver cancer on 7 November 2022, at the age of 81. as locum tenens of the Church of Cyprus and the 2022 Cypriot archiepiscopal election was called to choose his successor. On 24 December 2022, George of Paphos was elected as his successor.