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THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS, MR N. ANASTASIADES, VISITS THE PATRIARCHATE

On Sunday, the 1st/14th of June 2015, His Excellency the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Nikos Anastasiades, visited the Patriarchate. He was accompanied by his esteemed wife and associates of his. Ms Andri Anastasiadou had participated in the Divine Liturgy at the All-holy Church of the Resurrection, led by His Eminence Methodios, Archbishop of Tabor.

His Excellency the President was welcomed by His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, in the presence of Hagiotaphite Fathers and Patriarchal School students.

In His address, the Patriarch talked of the contribution of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem towards the preservation of the existing multinational, multi-religious and inter-communal political status quo of the Holy City of Jerusalem, recognized by all interested parties. He also pointed out that the historic course of the troubled island of Cyprus is interwoven with the course of the Middle East in general and the Holy Land in particular, adding “We say this because your visit to the state of Israel takes place at a time when in our neighbouring countries, Christians are being displaced from their homelands and persecuted mercilessly, but also at a time of inhuman killing and fratricide”. His Beatitude assured the Cypriot President of the Patriarchate’s prayers for the prevalence of peace and the harmonious coexistence of peoples in our region and the world in general, especially for the liberation and unification of Cyprus.

President Anastasiades was decorated with the Peace Medal, bestowed on distinguished personalities, in recognition of his support of the Holy Sepulcher and the Patriarchate.

Mr Anastasiades thanked the Patriarch for this honour and pledged, from a position requiring first and foremost the promotion and resolution of the Cyprus question, to always support the interests of the Patriarchate, especially within the Cyprus Exarchate and other property owned by the Holy Sepulcher in Cyprus.

From the Secretariat-General

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