“Your Beatitude I greet you”
Neophytos Papalazarou, son of the priest Papalazarou and member of AKEL, responds to the Archbishop’s remark that the people of AKEL are “agents of the British”
5 June 2022
I am Neophytos Papalazarou, the son of the priest Papalazarou from the village of Choletria, from the district of Paphos. I read your interview in “Politis” newspaper yesterday, Sunday, 5 June and I was very saddened by the remarks and characterizations you made. You are certainly entitled to your opinion on all issues, but as the Archbishop you have no right to call one third of the population “agents of the British”.
My father served as the vicar of the church of St. Panteleimon in his small village of Choletria in Paphos for 52 years. A priest who devoted an entire life to God and the people. It is true, he “married” his Orthodox faith with the ideals of the Left with admirable devotion. He fought for the good of his local community and of his congregants. According to you, was he an agent of the British?
My brother Kyriakos was assassinated on 1 July 1973 in the Paphos Metropolis by EOKA B because he believed in democracy and was raised with the ideals of the Left. Was he an agent of the English too? The eldest son of Papalazaros and Agathoniki, our big brother Sotiris, a medical student studying in the Soviet Union, defended on the day of the coup d’état 15 July 1974 democracy and subsequently fought for the freedom of our country and was killed in the Turkish invasion on 20 July 1974. Always faithful to the universal human ideals of democracy and progress. Was he also an agent of the British?
Your Beatitude,
You have served the church since your youth. Your discourse should contain a theological content that unites, not divides, a discourse that should bless each and every one of us and target no one. It is very sad to see that in your old age you express such characterizations. Think of your posterity and your mission as “the good shepherd”, Your Beatitude.
With respect,
Neophytos Papalazarou
Member of AKEL
P.S.: From the post of Mayor of the Municipality of Geri, I try to serve our citizens (with my weaknesses and mistakes) without ever discriminating, neither whether one is left-wing or right-wing. For that matter, a walk to the church of St. Minas or St. Charlabus in Geri can verify that. Maybe we shall meet in one of the two churches. I assure you, Your Grace, I serve my citizens and only my citizens, not the British!
