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On 29th April 2019, Archbishop Amvrosy of Vereya, rector of the Moscow Theological Academy, arrived in Cyprus with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and at the invitation of Metropolitan Isaias of Tamassos and Oreini.

On the next day the archpastor visited the Church of the Holy Martyrs Cyprian and Justina in Meniko village, wherein their holy relics are kept, as well as a 12th-century convent in Orunda village and a monastic abode in honour of the Great Martyr Panteleimon (12th century).

In the evening Archbishop Amvrosy of Vereya celebrated Paschal Vigil and Matins in the Church of the Holy Apostle Andrew and All Russian Saints. Singing at the service in the Greek and Church-Slavonic languages was a Byzantine choir of the Moscow Theological Academy. Clerics of the Orthodox Church of Cyrpus and graduates of the Moscow Theological Academy were praying in the sanctuary.

That same evening Archbishop Amvrosy had a brotherly meeting with Metropolitan Timotheos of Bostra, Exarch of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem in Cyprus; Metropolitan Dionysios of Corinth (Orthodox Church of Greece); and Metropolitan Ioustinos of Nea Krini and Kalamaria (Orthodox Church of Greece).

On 1st May, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the most ancient Metropolis of Cyprus – of Tamassos and Oreini – to mark the second anniversary of consecration of the Church of the Holy Apostle Andrew and All Saints of the Russian Church. The church in the Russian style was built in a suburb of Nicosia. This is the only cathedral in Cyprus crowned with golden domes a la russe, and its frescoes tell about ascetic deeds of the Russian saints. Among the guests from Russia who concelebrated the divine service was Archbishop Amvrosy of Vereya, rector of the Moscow Theological Academy.

Metropolitan Dionysios of Corinth who had brought relics of the Holy Apostle Andrew from Corinth for veneration, officiated at the Liturgy.

After the Gospel reading Archbishop Amvrosy conveyed to Metropolitan Isaias of Tamassos and Oreini Paschal greetings from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and handed over to him the Medal of St. Philaret of Moscow, 1st class, for his contribution to the promotion of relations between the Churches of Russia and Cyprus. “It is a great honour and joy for me to convey to Your Eminence today greetings from the Primate of our Church, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, with the best wishes and gratitude for your good endeavours,” Archbishop Amvrosy said, in particular, “Not in word, but in deed you bear witness and show that in Christ there are no nationalities… We are happy that the Moscow Theological Academy has such prominent graduate who continues to take care of his alma mater and does much for the education of young people, both Cypriots and Russians.”

Metropolitan Isaias asked the Russian archpastor to convey his sincere gratitude and Paschal greetings to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill. Speaking of his love for the Moscow Theological Academy, he said, “Along with the theological education I also received there a blessing of all Russian saints, especially St. Sergius of Radonezh who is the patron of the Lavra of the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius. While studying there, I every day visited the cathedral where his relics are kept. I wanted to bring the blessing of these saints to my people. That is why benefactor Vyacheslav Zarenkov and I decided to build this church in honour of Apostle Andrew and All Russian Saints, so that their blessing would be with our island and our Orthodox Church.”

In the evening of 1st May, the Greek and Slavic Festival ‘Cyprus 2019’ began in the territory of the Metropolis of Tamassos and Oreini. Among those who took part in its opening ceremony were the President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades; representatives of the Local Orthodox Churches, hierarchs and clergymen of Cyprus, and the delegation of the Moscow Theological Academy led by its rector. Prior to the opening ceremony Archbishop Amvrosy and the President of Cyprus exchanged greetings.

Press Service of the Moscow Theological Academy/

DECR Communication Service