Lefkosia:Archbishop Chrysostomos II of Cyprus Marks Major Anniversary

His Beatitude Archbishop Chrysostomos II of New Justiniana and All Cyprus is celebrating the fortieth anniversary of his consecration to the episcopacy on 25 February 1978,as Metropolitan of Paphos,this weekend in Lefkosia,Cyprus.Attending the events are two Orthodox Patriarchs:His Beatitude Pope and Patriarch Theodoros II of Alexandria and All Africa,and His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East.His Eminence Archbishop Gregorios of Thyateira and Great Britain and His Eminence Metropolitan Panteleimon of Vrioulon,Greece are carrying the good wishes of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to Archbishop Chrysostomos,and representatives of the other autocephalous Orthodox Churches are also expected at the observances.
The principal event will be the festal and hierarchal Divine Liturgy on Sunday 25 February,the Sunday of Orthodoxy,which is the first Sunday of Great Lent,commemorating the final restoration of the holy icons by St.Theodora the Empress in the ninth century.The service will be held at the Church of the God of Wisdom in Lefkosia,Cyprus.On Sunday afternoon,a ceremony and reception in honour of Archbishop Chrysostomos will be held at the church.*
A native of Paphos,Cyprus,Archbishop Chrysostomos was born on 10 April 1941.Admitted to the novitiate at the Holy Monastery of St.Neophytos,he attended the Paphos gymnasium (high school),graduating in 1963.On 3 November 1963,he was ordained to the diaconate.Having matriculated in the University of Athens in 1968,he graduated in 1972 and,on 19 October of that year,was elected Igoumenos (abbot) of HM St.Neophytos.On 5 November 2006,he was elected Archbishop of Cyprus and enthroned on 12 November.*
The very ancient Church of Cyprus was established by the Apostle Barnabas.Its autocephaly was affirmed by Canon 8 of the Third Ecumenical Council at Ephesus in 431:
Therefore the Rulers of the holy churches in Cyprus shall enjoy,without dispute or injury,according to the canons of the blessed Fathers and ancient custom,the right of performing for themselves the ordination of their excellent Bishops.