Head of Cyprus Church, Archbishop Chrysostomos, dies aged 81

FILE PHOTO: Pope Francis walks with Archbishop of Cyprus Chrysostomos II during a meeting with the Holy Synod at Apostle Varnavas Cathedral, in Nicosia, Cyprus, December 3, 2021. REUTERS/Yiannis Kourtoglou/

NICOSIA (Reuters) - The head of Cyprus's independent Greek Orthodox Church, Archbishop Chrysostomos II, died early on Monday, his doctors said. He was 81.

A forceful character who stared down pro-Russian elements in the Church, Chrysostomos was among Orthodox leaders to recognise the independence of the Church of Ukraine from the Orthodox Church in Moscow in 2020.