Church of Cyprus

Christian Eastern Orthodox jurisdiction in Cyprus

Key facts

Type: Autocephaly
Classification: Christian
Orientation: Greek Orthodox
Scripture: Septuagint New Testament
Theology: Eastern Orthodox theology
Polity: Episcopal
Primate: George III
Language: Koine Greek
Headquarters: Nicosia , Cyprus
Territory: Cyprus
Founder: Barnabas the Apostle
Origin: Roman Cyprus
Independence: AD 431 or earlier

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Article

The Church of Cyprus (Greek: Ἐκκλησία τῆς Κύπρου, romanized: Ekklisia tis Kyprou) is one of the autocephalous Greek Orthodox churches that form part of the communion of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Based in Cyprus, it is one of the oldest Eastern Orthodox autocephalous churches; it claims to have always been independent, although it may have been subject to the Church of Antioch before its autocephaly was recognized in 431 at the Council of Ephesus. The bishop of the ancient capital, Salamis (renamed Constantia by Emperor Constantius II) was constituted metropolitan by Emperor Zeno, with the title archbishop.

History