The archdiocese issue or the Archbishop's problem ( Greek Αρχιεπισκοπικό ζήτημα ) is a crisis that engulfed the Cypriot Orthodox Church and the entire Greek community of the island in 1900-1909. It arose in May 1900, when after the death of the chairman of the Cypriot Orthodox Church, Archbishop Sofronius III , there were only two bishops, Metropolitan of China of Cyril (Papadopoulos) and Metropolitan of Cyrene of Cyril (Vasiliu) , each of whom claimed the post of archbishop. This struggle, originally purely ecclesiastical, subsequently assumed wider political and social shades. Supporters of the two Cyril, Chinese and Kerinians, also became known by the characteristics of the moderate and implacable, due to the political line of each of the parties [1] .
History
On February 5, 1899, Metropolitan Epiphanius of Paphos died, after which the election of his successor was to take place. For this, it was necessary to hold elections to appoint electors who, together with the Holy Synod, would elect a new bishop. But when the delegates arrived in Nicosia on April 30 of the same year [2] , they learned that the Holy Synod canceled the elections under the pretext of numerous violations, since most of the delegates (9 out of 12) were supporters of a candidate who was objectionable to the environment of the Archbishop of Cyprus Sophronius III , administering church affairs due to the senile weakness of Archbishop Sofronius [3]
In April 1900, in a second attempt to elect Metropolitan of Paphos, delegates spoke out for the candidacy of Metropolitan of Cyrene Kirill (Vasiliu) , but he rejected this proposal. The elections again ended to no avail [3] .
On May 22, 1900, the Archbishop of Cyprus Sofronii III also died . After that, two hierarchs remained in the clergy of the Cypriot Orthodox Church: Metropolitan of China of Cyril (Papadopoulos) , nicknamed Cyrilatos, and Metropolitan of Cyrene of Cyril (Vasiliu) , nicknamed Cyriludis. Both were nominated as candidates for the post of Archbishop of Cyprus, and none of them wanted to concede to the other [1] .
The absence of the full composition of the Holy Synod (at least 3 metropolitans) and the written written procedure for the archbishop’s election procedure [3] , as well as the absence of a clear favorite among the two candidates for the archbishop's throne gave rise to an acute church crisis. The people were divided into supporters of Metropolitan Cytil of China - the “Chinan Party” and supporters of Metropolitan Cyril of Kerin - the “Cyrene Party”. This confrontation was not only long-term, but also particularly acute. Each of the two Metropolitans Kirillov expressed his line on the national question of Cyprus [1] . Cyril of Cyrene was supported by moderate collaborating circles of Nicosia, Cyril of Kitai - radical nationalist-minded new-bourgeois circles of Larnaca and Limassol, led by politicians who came from the Greek kingdom [3] .
The confrontation between the two Cyril and their supporters went through many stages and the Orthodox Churches of Constantinople, Jerusalem and Alexandria intervened in the matter. The British, at least officially, did not take part in this confrontation which. However, it is obvious that the continuation of the crisis between the Greeks of Cyprus themselves was on hand [1] .
In 1907, then-governor submitted a bill to the Legislative Council on the Choice of the Archbishop, the preparation of which he entrusted the “white politician,” Ioannis Kiryakidis. Metropolitan of Kerin Cyril rejected this bill, which was also opposed by the Patriarch of Constantinople Joachim III . In June of that year, Patriarch of Alexandria Photius and cleric of the Jerusalem Orthodox Church, Archimandrite Meletius (Metaxakis) , as well as Metropolitan of Ankhial Vasily arrived in Cyprus in order to contribute to resolving the crisis. However, in the end, they themselves became involved in it: the Patriarch of Alexandria Photius supporting Metropolitan Cytil of China, and Metropolitan Vasily of Metropolitan Cyril of Kerin [1] .
The Patriarchate of Constantinople, after discussion with the British, decided to independently elect a new archbishop of Cyprus, appointing Metropolitan Cyril of Kerinia on February 9, 1908. The reaction of the supporters of the “Kitians” was immediate and decisive, while the Kerinians celebrated. Masses of Chinese people gathered in Nicosia with Greek flags chanting slogans. Meanwhile, the Kerinians occupied the archbishopric in which both Cyril of Kitai and Cyril of Kerin were, and demanded to begin the process of ascending to the throne. The British authorities in order to avoid bloodshed expelled people from the archbishopric and transported two metropolitans to the governor's building. Cyril of Kerin, fearing bloodshed, announced that he did not accept his election, because he did not want, in his expression, to walk on the corpses. However, clashes and stone throwing could not be avoided, and the governor announced the introduction of martial law [1] .
After that, the vote on the bill on the selection of the archbishop was accelerated, which was approved by the Legislative Council on April 22, 1908, in which the vast majority of the 9 Greek members were supporters of Cyril of Kitai. After which it became possible to conduct the election of representatives. The elections were held without serious incidents. On April 8, 1909, elected representatives of 60 people gathered at the grand synod of the Archdiocese, and elected Metropolitan Cytil of China of Cyprus as Archbishop of Cyprus [1] .
The final reconciliation of the two Cyril came in February 1910, after the intervention of the Greek government [1] .
The loser in the elections was awarded the title of “blessed chairman of Kerynia,” but he was also destined to sit on the throne of the archbishop several years later, under the name of Cyril III, after the death of his rival in 1916 [1] .
Notes
- ↑ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Prodromos
- ↑ Μιχαήλ Μιχάλης p. 320
- ↑ 1 2 3 4 CYPRUS ORTHODOX CHURCH // Orthodox Encyclopedia . - M .: Church Scientific Center "Orthodox Encyclopedia" , 2014. - T. XXXIV. - S. 8-59. - 752 s. - 33,000 copies. - ISBN 978-5-89572-039-4 .