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New Maronite Archbishop Of Cyprus Enthroned

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  • New Maronite Archbishop Of Cyprus Enthroned

    NEW MARONITE ARCHBISHOP OF CYPRUS ENTHRONED

    http://www.financialmirror.com/News/Cyp rus_and_World_News/13245
    December 22, 2008

    The enthronement of the new Maronite Archbishop of Cyprus, Joseph
    Soueif, took place Sunday in the Maronite Church in Nicosia.

    The ceremony was attended among others by President of the Republic
    of Cyprus Demetris Christofias, Archbishop of the Church of Cyprus
    Chrysostomos II, Bishops of the Holy Synod of the Church of Cyprus,
    Maronite Archbishops and Bishops, members of the Cypriot Council of
    Ministers, leaders and representatives of the political parties of
    Cyprus, members of the Cypriot Parliament and Cypriot Members of the
    European Parliament, heads of diplomatic missions, representatives
    of the Maronite community in Cyprus, mayors and others.

    In his address, the new Maronite Archbishop thanked especially the
    Cypriot President and the Archbishop of the Church of Cyprus for
    attending the ceremony, saying "I interpret your presence at this
    ceremony as an honor to the Maronite community in Cyprus and to my
    self and I express to you all my deep appreciation".

    "My special gratitude to you Mr President for your presence
    among us today. This is a proof of love and concern for our
    community. Archbishop Chrysostomos II, I am deeply touched by your
    presence here and the brotherly initiative that you took in sending
    me a special greeting on the very day of the declaration of my elect
    ion", he continued.

    The new Maronite Archbishop expressed the wish and prayed that
    the Cyprus problem is soon solved and the Maronite refugees return
    to their villages and properties, which are under Turkish military
    occupation since 1974.

    "We wish and pray that the Cyprus problem will soon be resolved and
    our people will go back to our homes, to our churches in Kormakitis,
    in Asomatos, in Ayia Marina and in Karpasia", which are traditionally
    Maronite villages now under Turkish occupation.

    He also referred to the Maronite enclaved persons who still live in
    their villages in the occupied areas of Cyprus, saying "I admire
    the faith and the courage of people who are still living there. I
    bestow upon them the blessings of the Lord and the protection of the
    Virgin Mary" assuring them that "I will be by their side regularly
    visiting them".

    Cyprus, he continued, "has a very rich inheritance of apostolic
    tradition. Cyprus is an island rich in spiritual history. This allows
    it to play a special role in the European Community".

    "I look forward to our sincere and closed cooperation for the good
    of my community and the whole of this great island", the new Maronite
    Archbishop concluded.

    In his address, President of Cyprus congratulated the new Maronite
    Archbishop for his enthronement and wished him every success,
    reassuring him that their c ooperation will be "close and daily".

    "Today's message is a message of unity, a message on behalf of the
    Maronite community, the Maronite Church, a message on behalf of the
    Orthodox Church of Cyprus as well as a message of unity on behalf
    of the Armenian and Latin communities of Cyprus", he said, adding
    "it is also a message of love, brotherhood and unity with the Turkish
    Cypriot community of the Republic of Cyprus".

    He expressed the wish that soon the "blessed day will come, when the
    refugees will return to their homes and properties and villages".

    "Dear new Archbishop of the Maronites in Cyprus, I would like to
    reassure you of my friendship and support", the Cypriot President
    said, adding "we have a common struggle, a struggle for the salvation
    of our country and I am sure that the day will come when this will
    become reality".

    Archbishop of the Church of Cyprus has congratulated the Maronite
    Archbishop for his enthronement and reassured of his cooperation
    with him.

    "I would like to reassure you that the Church of Cyprus will welcome
    you with pleasure and we will be at your disposal. Our cooperation
    is given and we will be glad to welcome you in the Archbishopric and
    other Churches. Your presence will be a great joy for us", he said.

    Archbishop Chrysostomos II wished the new Maronite Archbishop 9
    Cstrength and prosperity".

    In his address, Antonis Hadjiroussos, Representative of the Maronite
    Religious Group at the Cypriot House of Representatives, welcomed
    the new Archbishop, describing the day as historic for the Maronite
    community in Cyprus.

    "The presence of the President of Cyprus is highly appreciated by all",
    he said.

    Hadjiroussos referred to the ongoing process which began in September
    with an aim to reunify Cyprus, divided since the Turkish invasion of
    1974, saying that "You should know Mr President that we support your
    efforts for the reunification of Cyprus".

    He referred to the problems faced by the Maronite community in Cyprus
    after the Turkish invasion of 1974, saying that "Maronite refugees
    would like to return to their villages and properties".

    Welcoming the new Archbishop, he said "welcome and congratulations
    for your enthronement, you have our unreserved support".

    The new Archbishop was born in Chekka, Lebanon, in 1962 and ordained
    a priest in 1987.

    The Maronite Church is one of the largest Eastern-rite communities
    of the Roman Catholic Church and is especially prominent in modern
    Lebanon.

    The Maronite community in Cyprus has a Maronite Archbishop who is
    elected by the Holy Synod of the Maronite Church in Lebanon and
    confirmed by His Holiness the Pope.

    At present the Cyprus Maronite community is a very small community
    forming an integral part of the people of Cyprus but, at the same
    time, continuing to exist as a separate community. The Maronites who
    now live in Cyprus consider themselves of Lebanese origin and they
    are Christian Catholics.

    The Maronite community of Cyprus today numbers around 6.000 scattered
    all over the island.

    After the Turkish invasion of 1974, the Maronites had to abandon
    their villages which are now under Turkish occupation.

    The number of Maronites living in the Turkish occupied areas has
    steadily decreased from 2.000 in December 1974 to 150 persons today,
    who are of an average age of 70 and over.
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