Church leader was gun-toting resistance fighter.Byline: Elias Hazou AS A YOUNG man in the heady head·y adj. head·i·er, head·i·est 1. a. Intoxicating or stupefying: heady liqueur. b. days of 1974, Archbishop Chrysostomos was a gun-toting cleric/resistance fighter. This piece of information, probably not known to most people, came to light after the latest dustup over a memorial service held for the coupists killed in the summer of 1974. Though it was hardly the first time Chrysostomos had presided over such a service, once again the Prelate PRELATE. The name of an ecclesiastical officer. There are two orders of prelates; the first is composed of bishops, and the second, of abbots, generals of orders, deans, &c. drew fire from politicians. The service was for 22 commandos (draftees) killed in an operation to depose To make a deposition; to give evidence in the shape of a deposition; to make statements that are written down and sworn to; to give testimony that is reduced to writing by a duly qualified officer and sworn to by the deponent. the then President of the Republic, Archbishop Makarios. On July 15, 1974, a detachment of the National Guard, led by officers from mainland Greece, launched a coup aimed at assassinating Makarios and realising their plans for enosis Noun 1. enosis - the union of Greece and Cyprus (which is the goal of a group of Greek Cypriots) union - a political unit formed from previously independent people or organizations; "the Soviet Union" (union with Greece). Makarios escaped, fleeing to London. Five days later, Turkish forces invaded the island. Thirty-five years on, the state does not sanction memorial services in honour of known coupists. AKEL AKEL Anorthotikon Komma Ergazemenou Laou (Cyprus; Progressive Party of the Working People) deputy Nikos Katsourides said he was concerned that such actions might "equate e·quate v. e·quat·ed, e·quat·ing, e·quates v.tr. 1. To make equal or equivalent. 2. To reduce to a standard or an average; equalize. 3. " the coupists, who were to blame for the subsequent calamity brought upon the island. He also doubted whether the Prelate's action would help heal the wounds of the past. "The way to do justice to memory is by restoring the historical truth. This action [by the Archbishop] was wrong, not helpful at allC*" Katsourides told newsmen yesterday. Speaking in the royal 'we', Chrysostomos defended his action, commenting: "We never equated the outlaws with the legitimate state. But when the Church is asked to pray for the souls of these men [the coupists], clearly we cannot refuse." He added: "Many times I have denounced the coup and its perpetrators. Not only that, but on the day of the coup, I personally took up arms against the coupists." Copyright Cyprus Mail Cyprus Mail is a Cypriot English-language newspaper. It is published daily (except Mondays) and a number of articles are available online. Its current chief editor is Kosta Pavlowitch. The managing director is Kyriakos Iacovides. 2009 Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company |
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