The Metropolis of Limassol released a statement in response to the events that occurred on Sunday, May 19, during the opening of the Church of St. Nicholas in Limassol. This statement comes after a report by orthodoxtimes.com detailing the visit of the Russian Metropolitan, the inauguration ceremony, and the background of the church’s construction in that area.
In their announcement, the Metropolis of Limassol emphasized that the church is under the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan of Limassol. The Metropolitan oversees the church and is recognized as the legitimate bishop in this area.
The statement also clarified that there is no issue with co-celebrating the Divine Liturgy with Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, stating that both the Archbishop of Cyprus and the Ecumenical Patriarch commemorate Patriarch Kirill of Moscow during the Divine Liturgy, indicating that there is no break in communion with the Moscow Patriarchate.
It was mentioned that Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk inaugurated the Russian church in Limassol with the approval of the local Metropolitan Athanasios.
The inauguration of the Church of St. Nicholas in Limassol took place on the Sunday of the Myrrhbearers. The event, as reported by the Department for External Church Relations of the Russian Church, signified the church’s affiliation with the Moscow Patriarchate. The Divine Liturgy was co-celebrated by Metropolitan Timotheos of Bostra, Exarch of the Holy Sepulchre in Cyprus, who has openly expressed support for the Russian church.
Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas