NICOSIA – Archbishop Chrysostomos II of Cyprus was laid to rest on November 12 in the crypt of St. Barnabas Cathedral in Nicosia. His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew traveled from Constantinople via the Greek island of Kos to Cyprus since Turkey does not allow direct flights to the Republic of Cyprus. Patriarch Bartholomew officiated at the funerals with the participation of the locum tenens of the Church of Cyprus Metropolitan Georgios of Paphos and the members of the Synod.

The Patriarch was accompanied by Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain, Metropolitan Panteleimon of Vryoula, Metropolitan Job of Pisidia, Archimandrite Aetios, Director of the Patriarchal Office, and Deacon Kallinikos.

Patriarch Bartholomew in his eulogy said among other things that, “your name will always be held in the highest respect in our memory and in the history of the entire church and our people,” and added that “all you have done will be eternally remembered before God and humanity.”

Archbishop Chrysostomos died on Monday November 7 at the age of 81 after a four-year battle with cancer.

One of the most active archbishops of Cyprus in recent memory, Chrysostomos enacted a string of reforms, including restoring the church’s decision-making independence after eight centuries by bolstering the Holy Synod with the ordination of new bishops and the drafting of a new constitution.

In his eulogy Georgios of Paphos praised Chrysostomos as the “greatest reformer” and an untiring defender of his people’s rights and aspirations. “He left behind a body of work before which time itself will bow, and he has taught us that humans justify their fleeting passing through this world struggling for the common good,” Georgios said.

The late church leader was often criticized for speaking his mind about everything from the ethnically divided country’s complex politics to the state’s finances. But Chrysostomos earned the respect of all for his unassuming work to help those most in need.

Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades hailed Chrysostomos as an “indefatigable leader” whose service elevated him as “an acclaimed spiritual personality internationally.”

“I had the honor of knowing a hierarch who did not hesitate to directly express his opinion, regardless of whether this would displease his interlocutor or even a section of society,” Anastasiades said.

Among those attending the funeral were His Beatitude, Pope and Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria, Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece, Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou, and representatives of Pope Francis.

Chrysostomos’ successor will be selected in an election process on December 18.