Greek Cypriot Orthodox church in tax feud

NICOSIA, Cyprus, March 24 (UPI) -- A war of words has developed between the Greek Cypriot president and the leader of the island's Orthodox church over its tax status.

The spat began Monday when President Demetris Christofias said the church should begin paying taxes immediately, the Cyprus Mail reported Wednesday.

"No one can hide behind the holiness of their institution," he said.

Archbishop Chrysostomos shot back in a state television program Tuesday, saying the church did pay taxes and threw a barb at the president.

"We should not be populists and tell lies," the archbishop said.

Government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou later lashed out at the archbishop's remarks to reporters.

"Instead of the archbishop embezzling public money by avoiding taxation, instead of living in opulence with the money of the church and the faithful, instead of building (multimillion-dollar) churches, it would be preferable to pay taxes, meet his obligations towards the state and contribute to the improvement of state revenues," Stefanou said.