HUNDREDS of high school students supporting a suspended Cypriot priest yesterday stormed into the courtyard of the Archbishop's Palace in Nicosia where the clergyman faced a synod trial over immorality charges.
Police used tear gas to disperse about 500 students who broke through the palace gate, hurling bricks and smashing windows.
Inside, the island's bishops convened the Holy Synod to review the charges against Archimandrite Pangratios Meraclis (39), whose supporters threaten a revolt in the Greek Orthodox Church of Cyprus. The meeting ended after four hours, apparently without a decision.
Father Meraclis was elected by a big majority of people in the Morphou district as their new bishop. But Archbishop Chiysostomos refuses to ordain him because of "moral obstacles". The archbishop has said the archimandrite introduced a student to homosexuality.
Father Meraclis has denied any impropriety. He could be defrocked if the Holy Synod finds against him.
Around 2,000 supporters of Father Mercalis, who returned on Sunday from self exile in Greece, waited outside the courtyard, ringing the bells of a church and holding banners calling the archbishop a "fascist" and a "tsar".
"A decision was not taken, there will be another meeting," Father Meraclis shouted over the roar of his supporters after emerging from the meeting.
"We should disperse now and go and continue our prayers for the good of the church," said Father Meraclis, a slight, bespectacled man barely visible except for his black felt hat.
The controversy has embarrassed the Cyprus church.
Several youths lost consciousness after police fired teargas.