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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.
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.