His Beatitude Archbishop Georgios at the Head of Cyprus’ Church
The Churches of the World Celebrates the Enthronement Ceremony of the 76th Archbishop
Photo: CyprusMail
“In Cyprus, the Church has the first word. And all eyes are on me.” With these words, His Beatitude Archbishop Georgios started his new mission as Archbishop of New Justinian and All Cyprus, recognizing the weight of his responsibility assigned to him by God. His Beatitude said these words at his Enthronement ceremony as the 76th head of Cyprus’ Church, on Sunday 8 January 2023, at the Apostolos Varnavas Cathedral in Nicosia. His Beatitude Archbishop Georgios is succeeding the Late Archbishop Chrysostomos II, who died at the age of 81, in November 2022, after a long battle with illness.
Church bells tolled as H.B. Georgios arrived to the Cathedral. The enthronement ceremony was attended by Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, official leaders and religious chiefs, including Greece’s Archbishop Ieronymos II, as well as Bishops from Greece and representatives of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of other Christian Orthodox Churches, and other denominations.
In addition, a large screen was set up outside the Cathedral to broadcast the Enthronement for members of the public who came to the Cathedral and participate in the ceremony.
Photo: CyprusMail
After the Act of the Enthronement, Synod was read by the Chief Secretary, and H.B. Georgios signed his new responsibility, in red ink, from the inkwell of Archbishop Kyprianos. Then, he stood on the first steps of the archiepiscopal throne where the first Bishop in command, Bishop of Kition, Nektarios, offered him the imperial scepter, which dates back to 1869. At the end of the ceremony, the new Archbishop received congratulations, and hosted a dinner for the guests.
In his speech, H.B. Georges said, " the 21st century is a challenging one that is seeing traditions fall apart and people trying to build foundations on rocky ground.” He added, “the church is a refuge for people, where they turn to for answers for the questions that plague them”, stressing that “it is my duty to stand by and support every person…”
He also mentioned that "the Church was aware of a lot of the challenges in current society, ranging from external temptations, efforts by science to question the church and also the financial challenges people are facing.” He said, “the Church would stand by all of those who needed help… It is its longstanding responsibility to be involved in education and unacceptable that we stay away from this…”
On the occasion, several speeches were addressed by religious leaders, including a speech by His Beatitude Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, read by Archbishop of Thyateira, Nikitas, in which he called on His Beatitude Georges to give himself to the Church and the common struggle to fight to protect the faith during these challenging times…”. As well as, the Nuncio in Cyprus read a letter from His Holiness Pope Francis, in which he described Georgios as a worthy leader of the Church.
MECC Communication and Public Relations Department
Photos: CyprusMail
