Archbishop Chrysostomos II, the outspoken leader of Cyprus' Greek Orthodox Christian Church whose forays into the country's complex politics and finances fired up supporters and detractors alike, died Monday. He was 81.
Chrysostomos had suffered from liver cancer for the last four years and had spent his final days at the church's headquarters in the capital.
A bulletin issued by a team of doctors said the archbishop "passed peacefully after facing the trial of his ailment with courage, patience and Christian endurance" at 6:40am Monday.