Both the Cathedral of the Dormition of the Theotokos (St Mary’s) and the Church of St Barnabas were filled with Orthodox Christians throughout Holy Week and Pascha remembering the Lord’s passion, sacrificial crucifixion, and glorious Resurrection.
Bishop Iakovos of Claudiopolis presided over the services, accompanied by Fr Athanasios Melissaris, Professor of the National & Capodistrian University of Athens’ Theological faculty and Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne. Fr Athanasios preached the word of God to the faithful at each of the services, offering encouraging messages of hope in the Resurrection, of faith in the Orthodox Church’s liturgical and spiritual tradition, and of repentance in our struggle to implement the Lord’s will in one’s life.
The Presbyters of the community, Frs Panagiotis Dik and Petros Georgiou, accompanied by Fr Nikolaos Kokkinos also concelebrated with Bishop Iakovos and assisted in serving the plentiful liturgical and spiritual needs of the two churches, along with the recently ordained Deacon Fr Gregory Florides.
On Holy Friday Bishop Iakovos of Claudiopolis, accompanied by the president of the community’s Charitable Fellowship Marie Liveras, and Dia Anastasi, visited the ‘Autumn Gardens’ care home in order to convey the Paschal joy of Christ’s Resurrection and the pastoral care and love of Archbishop Nikitas. Bishop Iakovos shared Paschal gifts with the residents, sharing words of Christian hope and love.
At the service of the Lamentations or ‘Epitaphios, commemorating the Lord’s burial, the community was honored with the presence of the Members of Parliament for Enfield Southgate Bambos Charalambos and for Hornsey and Wood Green Catherine West as well as the President of the Cypriot Foundation of the UK, Christos Karaolis and leading members of the Foundation Michalis Ellinas and Bambos Charalambos.
Participation in the Holy Week Services offered all members of the community an opportunity to unite in prayer and repentance in order to share in the eternal joy, the spiritual renewal, and the eschatological fruits of Christ’s glorious Resurrection.