Church of Cyprus

Church of Cyprus
Coat of arms of the Church of Cyprus.
Founder	Barnabas the Apostle
Independence	431 AD
Recognition	478 AD (Eastern Orthodox Church)
Primate	Chrysostomos II of Cyprus
Headquarters	Nicosia, Cyprus
Territory	Cyprus
Language	Koine Greek
Members	700,000
Bishops	16
Monasteries	67
Website	http://www.churchofcyprus.org.cy

The Church of Cyprus (Greek: Ἐκκλησία τῆς Κύπρου) is one of the Churches that together form the communion of the Eastern Orthodox Church. It is one of the oldest Eastern Orthodox autocephalous churches, achieving independence from the Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East in 431. The bishop of the ancient capital, Salamis (renamed Constantia by Emperor Constantius II) was constituted metropolitan by Emperor Zeno, with the title archbishop.

Paul the Apostle, accompanied by Barnabas and Mark the Evangelist (Barnabas' kinsman), came to Cyprus in 45 AD to spread Christianity. Arriving at Salamis, they travelled across the island to Paphos, where Sergius Paulus was the first Roman official to convert to Christianity. In 50 AD St. Barnabas returned to Cyprus accompanied by St. Mark and set up his base in Salamis. He is considered to be the first Archbishop of Cyprus. Some Christians say Barnabas was stoned to death by the Jews on the outskirts of Salamis, where he was also buried.

A few of the bishops who helped spread Christianity on the island were Lazarus, the Bishop of Kition, Herakleidios the Bishop of Tamasos, Avxivios the Bishop of Soloi, and Theodotos the Bishop of Kyrenia.

Towards the end of the 4th century, Christianity had spread throughout the island. During this time St. Epiphanius was Archbishop. His seat was in Salamis, which was renamed Constantia.