The heart of the Middle East echoed again in Cyprus

An initiative of the primate, peacemaker, conciliatory, brother and philanthropic Archbishop of Cyprus Chrysostom, which has been embraced since the first moment, has been very successful for the ninth consecutive year.

On the mountain slopes of Troodos, just outside of Kakopetria, on the throne of Saint Nicholas, where the burning wounds of the view of the occupied Morphos and our other suburbs still bleed, the hearts of the Orthodox youth of the Middle East beat once again this year.

With the untiring care of the Synodical Youth Committee of the Church of Cyprus, led and chaired by the President of the Committee, His Eminence Metropolitan of Kitiou, Nektarios, Assisted by Archimandrite, Stylianos Stylianou and the coordinator and secretary of the Archbishop’s Office, theologian Mr. Michael Spyrou, once again this year, at the camps of the Holy Archdiocese of Cyprus ‘Saint Nicholas,’ a nine day meeting for the Youth will be held by the Ancient Patriarchates of the Middle East.

Around 30 young people from each of the Patriarchates of Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem and the Church of Cyprus will come into contact with each other, be in attendance, and will visit Sacred Pilgrimages, Holy Monasteries and other sights of our island, they will experience our Christian culture as well as our current wound- the fragmentation of our homeland.

The culmination of all of these activities of meeting, interconnection and common view, was the Patriarchal Concelebration which took place today, Sunday 25 August 2019, at the campsite.

In an atmosphere of spiritual prayer, liturgical communion and bilingual Byzantine chanting (Greek and Arabic) a splendid concelebration took place, which was officiated by His Beatitude, the Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa Theodoros II, and concelebrated by Metropolitan Nektarios of Kitiou, His Grace Bishop Nikodemos of Nitria, the Abbot of the Holy Monastery of the Apostle Barnabus Archimandrite Ioannis Ioannou as well as other members of clergy.

After the Divine Liturgy, a traditional Cypriot meal was offered to all in attendance.

The Metropolitan of Kitiou welcomed the Primate of the Patriarchate of Alexandria on behalf of the Archbishop of Cyprus and praised the effort that is being made each year to organize this constructive week of meetings for young Orthodox people in the Middle East.

In reply, His Beatitude the Patriarch of Alexandria addressed paternal words of support and encouragement to the youth, without forgetting to also thank wholeheartedly the Archbishop of Cyprus for this excellent initiative, so that the Orthodox youth of the Middle East could come to this every year and in this way to create a strong relationship between the members of the flocks of the Middle East centered around martyred Cyprus.

“It was never necessary for the Archbishop of Cyprus to tire himself to convince us about the purity of his motives and emotions and his contribution to the expedient facing of the enormous Ecclesiastical issues and universal problems of our days. It was more than noteworthy. This Initiative for our Youth to meet and discuss the future of our countries and our culture, tomorrow’s citizens and conveyers of our traditions, are enough for him to win a place in the Kingdom of God”.

The Patriarch of Alexandria also announced that during the coming December a meeting will take place between the Primates of the Churches of the Middle East in Egypt, where it will be proclaimed that the Middle East is truly Orthodox. An artistic programme followed from every group and they exchanged commemorative gifts on behalf of the Archbishop of Cyprus. “Youth of the Middle East, bearers of a name, which long centuries of struggle have made synonymous with the majesty and glory. Heirs of a long tradition of bravery and virtue. Go forward always. Continue the path which is indicated by our traditions and our expectations, a path which is sanctified by the blood of martyrs and heroes, watered by the breath of the venerable ones and the ascetics. All those who wish to win will win, and you must conquer!”