Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church and spiritual leader of the Armenian community of Cyprus, is paying an official pontifical visit to Cyprus on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of his election and consecration to the Pontifical Throne.
According to a press release issued by the Armenian Prelature of Cyprus, he will arrive in Cyprus on December 5, accompanied by Lebanon’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Dr Nora Bayrakdarian, the Grand Chancellor of the Catholicosate of Cilicia, Bishop Dajad Ashekian, and two Archimandrites of the Holy See of Cilicia. He will be received by the clergy and faithful of the Armenian community, led by the Armenian Archbishop of Cyprus, Gomidas, the Representative of the Armenian community, Vartkes Mahdessian, and the chairmen of the Councils of the Armenian Ethnarchy of Cyprus.
On Monday December 8 he will be successively received by the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides and Archbishop of Cyprus Georgios. He will also hold meetings with representatives of the Armenian Ethnarchy, the clergy and the organised bodies of the Armenian community, as well as with the heads of the Christian denominations of Cyprus.
During his visit, he will also visit the newly-established Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in Cyprus the Armenian parishes of Limassol and Larnaca and the Nareg Armenian School in Nicosia.
According to the press release, the highlight of the events marking the 30th anniversary of his pontificate will be the official event-banquet on Saturday 6th December, in Nicosia, and the Divine Liturgy presided by His Holiness, on Sunday at the Armenian Cathedral of Sourp Asdvadzadzin in Nicosia, during which the Catholicos will deliver his pontifical message to his flock. After the conclusion of the Liturgy, clergy and faithful will receive the blessing of His Holiness at the Consistory of the Armenian Prelature of Cyprus.