Archbishop Chrysostomos II fell asleep on Monday morning at the age of 81, after the deterioration of his health recently.
The widow of the throne and the designation of Watcher
According to Article 19 of the charter of the Church of Cyprus, immediately after the widowhood of the Archbishop's Throne, the first in order of the active Metropolitans, assumes his temporary administration as Overseer, until the election and enthronement of the new Archbishop. If the person invited to the vigil is prevented or refuses, the next one, according to order, from the active Metropolitans takes over. The Superintendent exercises the temporary administration of the Archdiocese only in the usual and necessary, for its orderly operation, without otherwise allowing any change in the status, either of persons or of things. With the death of the Archbishop, Metropolitan George of Paphos takes over as guardian of the throne, until the election and enthronement of the new Archbishop.
The candidates
According to Article 20, electors for the Archbishop Thrones are:
A) all the High Priests of the Church of Cyprus and
B) those who have the qualifications for the high priesthood according to article 30.
According to Article 21, the Guardian of the Throne has the obligation to send within ten days of the widow of the Throne, two circulars, one to the vicars ordering the compilation or revision of the electoral rolls, within fifteen days of the issuance of the encyclical and one by one to all the fullness of the Church, by which he sets the day for the election of the three persons within forty days of the widowhood of the Throne. The extension of the deadlines is possible only for exceptional reasons, by decision of the Holy Synod.
The Holy Synod, in the event of the Vicar's inability to meet the above obligations, may assign the vicarship to the next Metropolitan in order.
The election process
According to Article 22, the election process for the appointment of an Archbishop is carried out in two stages:
A) the formation of the three-person committee by universal suffrage and
B) the election of the Archbishop by the Holy Synod.
According to Article 21, on the date set by the Observer in the sent circular, elections are held by universal secret ballot for the formation of the triumvirate. All Orthodox Christians, over the age of eighteen, who have resided permanently for at least one year in Cyprus and who are registered in the electoral list of voters, which is approved by the Holy Synod, have the right to vote.
The list of electors of each parish or community is published by posting it in the Holy Temples and on the Church of Cyprus website. Anyone with a legal interest is entitled to submit, within three days, through the Parish Priest, a written objection to the list to the concerned High Priest. The High Priest, after examining the objections, makes a reasoned and irrevocable decision five days at the latest before the date fixed for the election of the three persons.
For the preparation of the list of voters and the observance of the electoral process, the Holy Synod can, for the smooth conduct of the elections, cooperate with the competent agencies of the State.
In each parish, the duties of the Electoral Committee are carried out by the Parish Committee. In parishes where there will be more polling stations, the Electoral Committee is appointed by the relevant Archpriest.
Each voter is entitled to vote for one of the electors for the formation of the triumvirate.
Each ballot is white and bears the seal of the Electoral Commission. The voter personally writes the name of the archdiocese-elect of his preference. If the voter is unable to express his will in writing, the chairman of the Electoral Commission is obliged to write on the ballot the name indicated by him.
According to Article 24 of the charter of the Church, after the counting of the votes in the polling stations is completed, the results of the voting are sent to the Observer. Each voter can submit within three days to the Holy Synod, objections to the electoral process. Within five days of the end of the deadline for submitting the objections, the Holy Synod is convened by the Overseer, decides definitively on them and then proceeds to validate the results and draw up the triumvirate, from the three persons who voted the majority. In case of a tie, a lottery is held during the session of the Holy Synod. Within three days of the formation of the triumvirate, the Holy Synod is convened by the Overseer, for the election of the Archbishop.
Before the election, a Divine Liturgy is celebrated in the Cathedral, by the last in order of the three active Metropolitans not included in the triumvirate. Then the Holy Synod convenes in the Great / synodical and proceeds to the election by secret ballot.
The nomination of the Archbishop
The archbishop is elected by the triumvirate, the one who gathers the absolute majority of the members of the Holy Synod. If this is not achieved, the vote is repeated at the same session of the Holy Synod, between the two persons who voted the most, and the one who receives the most votes is elected Archbishop. In the event of a tie, a lottery is held. After the election of the Archbishop, the members of the Holy Synod descend to the Cathedral for the performance of the Canonical Act.
The ordination
The ordination if the elect is not a High Priest and the enthronement take place within fifteen days of the election. The election of the new Archbishop, as well as the date of his enthronement, are announced by the Overseer to the Primates of the Orthodox Churches.
If, during the election process, the Superintendent fails to apply the provisions of the charter or neglects to convene the Holy Synod, it is convened by the next in rank Metropolitan who from now on also assumes the superintendency.