Chrysostomos I of Cyprus

Chrysostomos I is the current Archbishop of Cyprus.

Chrysostomos was born on September 27, 1927, in the village of Statos, Paphos province, Cyprus, to a poor family. After finishing primary school in his native village, he continued his studies in Kykkos Monastery and, later, in the Pancyprian Gymnasium.

Chrysostomos was ordained a deacon on February 18, 1951. The following year, he left Cyprus for Athens for higher studies. He graduated from the Theological School of the University of Athens in 1961 and returned to Cyprus. On October 29, 1961, he was ordained a priest.

Chrysostomos taught theology from 1961 until 1966 at the Pancyprian Gymnasium. He left Cyprus again in 1966 for graduate studies in Greece. On July 28, 1973 he was elected Bishop of Cyprus.

Chrysostomos was a staunch supporter of Archbishop Makarios III. He did not take part in the ecclesiastical coup against him and, after the political coup d' etat of July 15, 1974, worked for Makarios' return to Cyprus. After the latter's death on August 3, 1977, Chrysostomos became interim Archbishop until November 12 of that same year when he was elected as Makarios' successor.

Chrysostomos announced his retirement from the primacy of the Church of Cyprus due to Alzheimer's disease. His successor, Chrysostomos II was elected on November 6, 2006.