Memory Eternal and may God grant him rest with the Saints and forgiveness of sins!
Patriarchs are usually chosen by a vote of the Holy Synod. As far as I know, the Church of Cyprus is the only autocephalus Orthodox Church whose chief hierarch is chosen by the election of all the people. It is a very old and, in my opinion, appealing practice. In post-February Revolutionary Russia, bishops of cities were elected by the whole populace, communists and all. Such was St. Benjamin, Metropolitan of Petrograd (St. Petersburg), who was elected by all the people, even revolutionaries. This popularity, however, did not prevent the godless Soviet authorities from staging a show trial and ordering the holy Metropolitan\'s execution.
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