First Russian church on Cyprus opened (+ VIDEO)

Moscow, March 27, 2017

The celebration on the occasion of the opening of Cyprus’ first Russian-style parish, named in honor of St. Andrew and All Saints Showing Forth in the Russian Land, took place on Sunday, March 26 in the city of Episkopi, reports the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department of External Church Relations.

The first Liturgy was celebrated in the church by Metropolitan Isaias of Tamasos, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, and Archbishop Amvrosy of Peterhof, concelebrated by clergy of the Churches of Cyprus and Russia. The service was also attended by Metropolitan Niphon of Philipopolis (Patriarchate of Antioch), Bishop Antonije of Moravicí (Serbian Patriarchate), Metropolitan Nikolaj of Plovdiv (Bulgarian Patriarchate), and Metropolitan Theokletos of Vrestheni (Church of Greece).

Photo: Romfea.gr

The Divine Liturgy was sung by students of St. Petersburg theological schools.

In his address after the Liturgy, Metropolitan Hilarion noted that while services in the parish will be celebrated in Church Slavonic, with homilies in Russian and Greek, the new church belongs to the Church of Cyprus, not that of Russia, and membership is open to all Orthodox Christians. Many Russian families have moved to Cyprus in recent years, as the metropolitan noted. Of course the people desired a church and His Eminence expressed his gratitude to the Cypriot Church for taking the initiative to provide one.

“I would like to express the hope that this church, the first Russian church on the island, would not be the last such church. I hope that other bishops will take an example from you, Vladyka Isaiah, and build Russian churches in their dioceses as well. This will be a visible sign of the eucharistic and spiritual unity which binds our Churches throughout the centuries. At the same time it will answer the real needs of the people. The Russian people want a church nearby that they can pray in,” Metropolitan Hilarion stated.

Photo: Moscow Patriarchate’s Department of External Church Relations

​His Eminence also offered a homily for the Fourth Sunday of Great Lent, in celebration of St. John Climacus, highlighting the great power of faith, able to move mountains, for which we must entreat God.

On the same day, Metropolitan Hilarion also visited Paphos to inspect the progress in the construction of another Russian church on the island, named for St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. A cornerstone was laid and blessed by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill in 2012.