51�Թ�

The governing Holy Synod of senior bishops sent letters to all lawmakers outlining its objections.

Metropolitan Bishop Panteleimon, a spokesman for the Greek Church’s governing Holy Synod, said that its written objections would be sent to all members of Greece’s parliament and read out at Sunday services around the country on Feb. 4.

Although some pro-Russia bishops dissented against the 2020 decision by the 16-member Holy Synod, the Cyprus Church’s highest decision-making body, Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine that began on Feb. 24 consolidated that support.

Having read chemistry in Greece and Britain and later taught at high schools, Georgios was elected by a majority on the 16-member Holy Synod.

The process will go to a runoff, with the successor to Chrysostomos selected by the Holy Synod, the Church ruling body, from among the three clerics who get the highest number of votes on Sunday.