IN his annual Christmas message, Archbishop Chrystostomos asks the people of Cyprus to support those in need, and each other so they can “welcome Christ in our heart, thus proving ourselves worthy of God’s love”.

The Archbishop went on to comment on the current financial situation, saying that everyone in Cyprus must now demand that inequality is obliterated, that government institutions operate in full transparency and that all wrongdoers are punished.

“Rampant unemployment, the inability of a lot of people to meet the challenges of life, corruption in public life and demeaning concessions to the troika of lenders, that put our sovereignty in danger, discouraged many people and drove them to despair. Our current tragic financial state is a reality check for all,” said the Archbishop.

But the financial crisis was not the island’s biggest problem, he said. Chrysostomos accused Turkey of wanting to take over Cyprus while he also accused refugees who appealed to the north’s Immovable Property Commission of “selling out” and “guilty of high treason”.

“We need to regroup. We need to heed the voices of our ancestors. As a nation we have been through a lot and we have survived. Not only did we survive but we thrived throughout the ages. Our heroic actions shocked the world. With such a history behind us, we aren’t allowed to give up and abandon the fight,” the Archbishop remarked.

Chrysostomos also appealed to president Anastasiades, asking him not to back down on the Cyprus problem. “Today’s holiday reminds us that we ought to fight to protect our freedom and dignity, traits of our “made in the God’s image” creation. Our fight is one of obligation to God and country,” Chrysostomos said.