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HIS BEATITUDE THE PATRIARCH OF JERUSALEM IN CYPRUS FOR THE INAUGURATION OF HOLY SEPULCHER EXARCHY

On the morning of Friday, the 26th/9th of May 2014, His Beatitude Theophilos, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, accompanied by the Elder Secretary-General, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, the spiritual father of the Monastery of St Savvas, Archimandrite Evdokimos, the hegoumen of the Shepherds (Beit-Sahour) pilgrimage site, Archimandrite Ignatios, and Archdeacon f. Evlogios, arrived from Ben Gurion Airport to Larnaka aboard a Cyprus Airways flight. The purpose of the journey is the inauguration ceremony of the Exarchy of the Holy Sepulcher in Cyprus.

His Beatitude Chrysostomos, the Archbishop of Cyprus, and the Exarch, the Most Reverend Timotheos, Metropolitan of Bostroi, welcomed the Patriarch of Jerusalem at Larnaka airport.

From there, the Patriarchal and Prelatic revenue were driven to the Exarchy, in the vicinity of the Archbishopric of Cyprus.

At the Exarchy, the two Primates were warmly received by His Eminence Alexios, Archbishop of Tiberias and Patriarchal Commissioner in Gaza, by priests and a crowd of faithful.

At the entrance to the Exarchy, His Beatitude put on a mantle and led the short ceremony of supplication made at the splendid Church of the Exarchy in honour of the Ascension of the Lord and St Philoumenos the Hagiotaphite Holy Martyr, in view of the following day’s inauguration.

The supplication was sealed by a Polychronism wish for the two Primates.

A short reception followed at the renovated Guest Quarters (Archontariki) of the Monastery, where the faithful paid their respects to the Patriarch of Jerusalem, alongside students at the Hieratical School of the Archbishopric of Cyprus, led by Archimandrite Benedictus Ioannou.

At noon, His Beatitude Chrysostomos, Archbishop of Cyprus, in the presence of Metropolitan Christophoros of Karpassia, hosted the Patriarch and His retinue to lunch.

Vespers service was conducted in the evening at the Church of the Exarchy, led by the Patriarch in the presence of Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus.

From the Secretariat-General