The Metropolis of Limassol issued a statement addressing the events of Sunday, May 19, during the inauguration of the Church of St. Nicholas in Limassol. This response follows a report by orthodoxtimes.com detailing the visit of the Russian Metropolitan, the inauguration ceremony, and the history behind the decision to build the church in this area.
In its announcement, the Metropolis of Limassol emphasized that the church falls under the “omophorion” of the Metropolitan of Limassol. The Metropolitan administers and supervises the church, and he is recognized as the sole canonical bishop in this context.
The statement further clarified that there is no issue with co-celebrating the Divine Liturgy with Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, noting that “both the Archbishop of Cyprus and the Ecumenical Patriarch always commemorate Patriarch Kirill of Moscow at the Divine Liturgy. They have not severed communion with the Moscow Patriarchate.”
It was noted that Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk inaugurated the Russian church in Limassol with the “blessings” of the local Metropolitan Athanasios.
During the Sunday of the Myrrhbearers, the inauguration of the Church of St. Nicholas in Limassol took place. This event, according to the Department for External Church Relations of the Russian Church, indicated that the church belongs to the Moscow Patriarchate. The Divine Liturgy was concelebrated by Metropolitan Timotheos of Bostra, Exarch of the Holy Sepulchre in Cyprus, who has openly expressed his pro-Russian stance.
Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
