NewsLab

Bells ring dolefully throughout Greece, after the death of Orthodox Church leader, Archbishop Christodoulos. He passed away peacefully at his home on Monday after a battle with cancer. Greek authorities have declared a four-day mourning. Across the country flags flew at half-staff, on all public buildings and schools. Hundreds of Greeks are flocking to the Metropolis where the archbishop’s body is placed on public display, to pay their last respects, before his burial on Thursday.

Christodoulos was the spiritual leader of roughly 15 million Greek Orthodox Christians worldwide, including about 10 million in Greece. He had led the church for 10 years and is credited with reinvigorating the institution and bringing church closer to the public. In 2001, Christodoulos received the late John Paul II in Athens, on the first papal visit to Greece in nearly 1,300 years. During his visit, the pope asked for forgiveness for sins committed against Orthodox Christians during the 1,000 year split between the two traditions. The archbishop followed up in 2006 with an historic visit to the Vatican, where he and Pope Benedict XVI signed a joint declaration calling for inter-religious dialogue.

In contrast to his predecessor, Christodoulos appeared on television almost daily, touring schools and churches, and watched his approval rating rise to 75 percent in opinion polls. But during his tenure, the leader drew criticism from politicians who accused him of meddling in their affairs, angered by his opposition to everything from homosexuality and globalization to Turkey’s efforts to join the European Union. His tactics also made him enemies in the church and the media, who openly called for his resignation when several senior clerics were accused of embezzling funds in 2005.

But public criticism of the church leader quickly faded after news of Christodoulos’ illness spread. He had battled liver cancer for several months and traveled to the United States in an unsuccessful attempt to get a transplant. He declined hospital treatment in the last several days. The election of the new Archbishop of Athens and All Greece will take place on Thursday, 7 February 2008.