Maroniteparchy
The Archbishop of the Maronites of Cyprus H.E. Msgr. Selim Sfeir celebrated the Midnight Mass of Christmas at the "Our Lady of Graces Cathedral", in the presence of the representative of the Maronites Mr. Yannakis Moussas and his wife and a large number of faithful.
A big and bright bazaar took place on the two-day market of Larnaca from the parish of St. Joseph.
The events in both Larnaca and Nicosia were attended by the Maronite Archbishop of Cyprus, H.E. Msgr. Selim Sfeir, the Representative of the Maronites Giannakis Moussa and the Ambassador of Lebanon and Rector of the Diplomatic Corps Claude Al Hajal as well as many faithful.
The First Visit of H.E. Cardinal Pizzaballa
H.E. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizaballa, The Latin Patriarch of the Holy Land, visited Cyprus for the first time after being created Cardinal of the Church.
He was received at the airport by H.E. Msgr. Selim Sfeir, The Maronite Archbishop of Cyprus, The Chargé d’Affaires of the Vatican in Cyprus Msgr. Mario Lalli and the Vicar of the Latin Patriarch Msgr. Bruno Varriano as well as the Chief of Protocol in the Government Mrs. Koulla Sophianou and the Senior Consultant on Human Rights, Peace &Reconciliation at Weiderud & Associates, Mrs. Salpy Eskidjian in addition to F. Antoine Succar from the Maronite Archbishopric of Cyprus.
Friday Nov. 19, 2023, 10:00 a.m. H.E. Cardinal Pizzaballa met with H.E. the President of Cyprus Mr. Nikos Christodoulides.
H.E. Pizzaballa met at 11:30 a.m. the Archbishop of Nova Justiniana and All Cyprus, H.B. George II.
After meeting the Archbishop of Cyprus, H.E. Pizzaballa met the Mayor of Nicosia Mr. Constantinos Giorkadjis.
H.E. had lunch with the “Religious Track of Cyprus”.
By the evening, a reception took place in his honor at Cleopatra Hotel, attended by the diplomats and authorities of the government and the ecclesiastical authorities.
Saturday Nov. 18,2023, He met with all the Catholic Clergy and Religious and consecrated at the Maronite Archbishopric of Cyprus, where He presided the Holy Liturgy, and a lunch gathered all the attendees.
Sunday Nov. 19, 2023, H.E. celebrated the morning Mass (8:30) at the Maronite Cathedral, “Our lady of Graces” in Nicosia, and the Solemn Mass (10:30) at the Main Latin Church of Holy Cross in Nicosia.
In a very synodal event, The Maronite Church and the Latin Church in Cyprus celebrated the feast of “Saint George of the seeds” in the church dedicated to his name, located on the sea shore in Kormakitis.
The Maronite Archbishop of Cyprus H.E. Msgr Selim Sfeir presided the liturgy, assisted by the representative of the Holy See H.E. Msgr Mario Lalli and F. Bruno Varianno representing H.E. Cardinal Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa and some of the Maronite priests of the archdiocese.
The ceremony was attended also by:
The Parliament Speaker, Mrs. Annita Demetriou.
The Head of the humanitarian affairs for missing persons and the enclaved, Mrs. Anna Aristotelous.
The Maronite representative in the Parlament, Mr. Yannakis Moussa.
The General Secretary of the Progressive Party of Working People (AKEL) and the member of the Cypriot House of Representatives, Mr. Stephanos Stephanou
and many ambassadors and officials, as well as the faithful of the Maronite Church.
The Divine Liturgy was followed by lunch at the same location.
