Bishop’s mental fitness raised before rape trial

The lawyer for former Kition Bishop Chrysostomos, who has yet to be arraigned on rape charges, says his client is not mentally competent to stand trial, as more women speak out against the metropolitan.

According to the Cyprus News Agency, defence attorney Michalis Pikis on Monday told a Larnaca-Famagusta criminal court that the former bishop is unfit to stand trial citing “impaired mental faculties.”

Chrysostomos, aged 83, was expected to answer to charges of rape in a case dating back to April 2011. A woman has accused the bishop of raping her at his workplace, the Holy Diocese of Kition in Larnaca.

The request will be examined on May 19 while previous reports said the former bishop was free after a bond had been set previously at €50,000.

According to details in the case, heard during a closed session, the woman has alleged that Chrysostomos offered her an alcoholic beverage before proceeding to rape her.

Earlier this month another case was filed in a Larnaca Criminal Court against the former bishop, who is being accused of indecent assault by a woman who was 16 at the time of the alleged incident.

Local media said the woman told authorities that Chrysostomos pushed her and she fell on a sofa, with the former bishop allegedly lying on top of her and trying to kiss her in the mouth.

According to the complaint, the second incident allegedly took place also at the Holy Diocese of Kition back in November 1981, with the trial set to begin later this year in June.

Two other women who live abroad reportedly are also ready to fly to the Republic of Cyprus to testify against the former bishop. According to local media, Chrysostomos has not been charged in these two case but reports said allegations of attempted rape have been made orally in both cases.