Patriarch of Jerusalem visits the Holy Archbishopric of Cyprus
On the morning of Saturday the 18th/31st of August, His Beatitude Theophilos, Our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, accompanied by the Elder Secretary-General, Archbishop of Constantina, Mr Aristarchos, and Archdeacon f. Athanasios, arrived at Larnaca Airport on a Cyprus Airways flight.
There, His Beatitude was welcomed by the Most Reverend Christophoros, Metropolitan of Karpassia, on behalf of the Archbishop of Cyprus.
From the airport, His Beatitude left for Nicosia, where he was informed about renovation works on the Exarchate of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The Exarchate is located in the vicinity of the Archbishopric of Cyprus, and works are scheduled to conclude in a few days.
On the following day, Sunday the 19th of August/1st of September 2013, a Joint Patriarchal Service was held, led by His Beatitude Theophilos and His Beatitude Chrysostomos, Archbishop of Cyprus. Co-officiating were His Eminence Aristarchos, Archbishop of Constantina, Hieromonks, Presbyters and deacons. Participating in devout prayer were a hundred young men and women – from the Church of Cyprus, the Patriarchate of Antioch, the Patriarchate of Alexandria and the Patriarchate of Jerusalem. During the last week of August, the youth participated in a camp at St Nikolas “of the roof” in Kakopetria. The camp was offered by the Archbishopric of Cyprus according to a decision taken at a meeting on the island among the heads of the Patriarchates of Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem and the Archbishopric of Cyprus on the establishment of a youth group called “Initiative”.
During the Joint Service, the choir of members of youth organizations from the aforementioned Churches sang in Greek and Arabic.
This solemn divine Service was completed with the participation of the Lord’s officiants and of the youth in the mystery of the divine Eucharist for consecration and salvation.
During the Liturgy, wishes were read out to the Lord for the protection of the natural environment at the beginning of the Indiction, which marks the Ecclesiastical New Year.
At the conclusion of the divine Liturgy, their Beatitudes addressed paternal and advisory words to the church youth group, urging them to be united in Christ, independent of their nationality, within the Body of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church of Christ.
Source: Patriarchate of Jerusalem
