ROMSO Cyprus Knowledge Base

**Archbishop's Question**
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The Archbishop's Question or Archbishop's Issue was a significant political crisis that affected the Cyprus Orthodox Church and the Greek community of the island between 1900 and 1909.

**Background**
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In May 1900, after the death of Archbishop Sophronius III, only two bishops remained in the clergy: Metropolitan Cyril of Kitia (Papadopoulos) and Metropolitan Kirill of Cyrinia (Vasiliu). Each of them claimed the post of Archbishop, setting off a conflict that would have far-reaching consequences.

**Causes of the Conflict**
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The dispute was exacerbated by the fact that each of the two Metropolitans had their own political program. The supporters of Metropolitan Cyril of Kitia adhered to a radically nationalist ideology, while those of Metropolitan Kirill of Cyrinia followed a more traditional political line, which was supported by the Patriarchate of Constantinople.

**Escalation and Consequences**
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Initially, the conflict was purely ecclesiastical in nature. However, it soon took on broader political and social connotations, dividing the people deeply. The Ecumenical Patriarchate became involved, attempting to mediate the dispute. The crisis reached a point where the Autocephaly of the Cyprus Orthodox Church was at risk.

**Timeline**
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* May 1900: Archbishop Sophronius III dies, leaving only two bishops in the clergy.
* 1900-1909: The conflict between Metropolitan Cyril of Kitia and Metropolitan Kirill of Cyrinia continues, with each side claiming the post of Archbishop.

Note: I corrected some minor errors in the original text, such as "Archidioscopic issue" (which seems to be a mistranslation) and "the year before ordained Kyrenia (also) Cyril", which is unclear. I also added a timeline section to provide a clear overview of the events.