Detailed schedule of the visits/transports of the Agia Zoni in the province of Famagusta and the Professor of the Holy Great Monastery of Vatopedi, Elder Ephraim
The Sacred Girdle of the Virgin Mary, which is located on Mount Athos, in the Holy Monastery of Vatopedi, is transferred to the Diocese of Constantia and Famagusta.
The Agia Zoni tis Panagia will be located for worship and blessing of the faithful in the Metropolitan Church of Agios Georgios Paralimni from 5 to 11 February 2024, while on Monday 5 February a large event will be held in the square of the Municipality of Paralimni.
The Sacred Girdle will be presented to Cyprus by the Pan-Theologian Professor of the Holy Great Monastery of Vatopedi, Archimandrite Ephraim, following the invitation of His Eminence Metropolitan Vassiliou of Constantia and Famagusta.
The visit of Agia Zoni to the province of Famagusta will take place in Cyprus after 34 years thanks to the efforts of the Holy Metropolis of Constantia and Famagusta.
Official reception on Monday 5 February 2024
Agia Zoni will arrive in Cyprus from Mount Athos, at the old airport of Larnaca, on Monday, February 5, 2024, and will be welcomed with the honors of a head of state.
At 12 noon, the official reception of Agia Zoni will take place in Paralimni, temporary seat of the Diocese of Constantia and Famagusta. The reception point will be the area in front of the old SPE of Paralimni. Then, in a procession, it will be taken to the Metropolitan Church of Agios Georgios Paralimni, where it will remain for worship until Sunday, February 11.
Commencement of activities by the Holy Metropolis of Constantia and Famagusta in the context of the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Turkish invasion
The arrival of the Holy Belt of the Theotokos in the semi-occupied Metropolis and our homeland also marks the beginning of the actions carried out this year by the Metropolis of Constantia and Famagusta, in the context of the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Turkish invasion. Placing all our hope in the Virgin Mary and Mother of God and asking the Virgin to protect us under her protection, we turn our gaze towards the occupied Famagusta. We look at our city, which was adorned with important temples (medieval and newer) dedicated to Agia Zoni, testimony of her honor in Cyprus since ancient times. The church of Agia Zoni within the city of Varosia from 1974 until today remains inaccessible, abandoned, stripped of its relics, idle. Support and unshakable wall of our salvation is the Most Holy Theotokos, whose intercession we all ask, worshiping her Holy Belt.
Agia Zoni, the unique relic of the Virgin Mary
The graceful Girdle of the Virgin Mary, located in the Holy Great Monastery of Vatopedi on Mount Athos, is the only relic preserved from her earthly life. The Blessed Virgin rose three days after she fell asleep and was taken up in a body into the heavens. During her ascension she gave the Apostle Thomas her Belt. The Apostles then, after opening the tomb "uh evron to soma" of the Virgin. Thus, the Holy Belt is evidence of the resurrection and ascension of the Virgin with her body to the heavens, that is, of her so-called transmigration.
The Sacred Girdle was, according to tradition, made by the Virgin Mary herself with camel hair. Initially it was kept in Jerusalem and then in Constantinople, where in the 12th century under Manuel I Comnenus (1143-1180) an official celebration of August 31 was established. Empress Zoe, wife of Leo VI the Wise, out of gratitude for her miraculous healing, embroidered the Belt with gold thread, as it remains today, but divided into three pieces. Emperor John V Kantakouzinos (1347-1355), who had a special love for the Vatopedi Monastery, as evidenced by many relevant testimonies, donated it to it. Since then, the Sacred Belt has been kept in the Holy Monastery of Vatopedi, in a silver case of newer construction which bears the image of the Monastery.
Countless miracles
Innumerable are the miracles, which are done to this day with the Holy Belt. Its value is inestimable, because it is associated with the Virgin Mary. Agia Zoni has the special grace of curing the infertility of women and cancer patients with a ribbon which has been previously blessed on her and then the sterile women and the sick are girded around her.
Visiting schedule in detail
Monday, 5 February 2024
- 10:30: Arrival and official reception at the old airport of Larnaca
- 12:00: Arrival and official reception in Paralimni (site of the old SPE of Paralimni). Address by the Mayor of Paralimni, Mr. Theodoros Pyrillis. Procession to the Metropolitan Church of Agios Georgios Paralimni. Doxology at the Metropolitan Church of Agios Georgios. Address of His Eminence the Metropolitan of Constantia Mr. Vassiliou and Rebuttal of the Panosiology Professor of the I.M.M. Vatopediou Gerontos Ephraim.
Tuesday 6 February 2024
- 13:30-14:30: Visit – transfer of the Holy Belt for veneration to the 7th Motorized Infantry Brigade
Wednesday, 7 February 2024
- 13:30-14:30: Visit - transfer of the Holy Belt for worship at Famagusta General Hospital and KEPA Nursing Home
- 18:30-19:30: (Xenion Amphitheater, Paralimni) Speech by Professor I. M. Vatopediou Elder Ephraim, entitled: "Agia Zoni. Mount Athos – Famagusta. The Virgin Mary, protector of the nation".
Thursday, 8 February 2024
- 13:30-14:30: Visit – transfer of the Holy Belt for worship to the Police Department and the Fire Department of Paralimni
Friday, February 9 2024
- 13:30-14:30: Visit - transfer of the Holy Belt for worship at Paralimni Town Hall. Trisagio and Deisi near the Deryneia Barrier.
Saturday, February 10 2024
- 18:00: Litanization of Agia Zoni in the main streets of Paralimni
Sunday, 11 February 2024
- 06:30-10:00: Orthros – High Priestly Synagogue. Sermon by Professor I. M. Vatopediou Elder Ephraim
- 12:00: Departure of Agia Zoni
Program of services and worship
Daily February 5 – 10, Metropolitan Church of Agios Georgios
- 06:30-13:00 / 15:30-00:30: Προσκύνηση
- 06:30-08:00: Orthros – Divine Liturgy
- 16:30-18:00: Vespers – Prayer
- 21:00-00:30: Vigil
Parallel Photo Exhibition "Agia Zoni Varosion. 50 years later" in the old church of Agios Georgios in Paralimni
The exhibition of photographs and relics entitled "Agia Zoni Varosion. 50 years later" is presented by the Diocese of Constantia and Famagusta and the Cultural Academy "Agios Epiphanios", in the old church of Agios Georgios in Paralimni, from February 5 to March 15, 2024.
The exhibition is part of the activities for the sad anniversary of the 50th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of 1974.
The exhibition "Agia Zoni Varosion. 50 years later" is also held on the occasion of the arrival of the Holy Belt of the Virgin from the Holy Monastery of Vatopedi on Mount Athos to the semi-occupied Metropolis of Constantia and Famagusta (February 5-11, 2024).
The material for the exhibition is mainly drawn from the book in print by Dr. Andreas Foulias and Dr. Christodoulos Hatzichristodoulou entitled "The religious monuments of the new city of Famagusta", published by the Diocese of Constantia and Famagusta and the Cultural Academy "Agios Epifanios", with supporters the General Secretariat of Religious Affairs of the Ministry of Education of Greece and the Academy of Theological Studies of Volos.
This particular volume records the history and relics of all the religious monuments of the new city of Famagusta, which emerged through extensive scientific research. The records and descriptions are complemented by rich photographic material, which includes archival evidence (old photographs, reproductions of maps, codes and books, architectural plans), but also recent photographs that capture the exterior and interior of all the religious monuments of the enclosed city.
The publication and the exhibition are addressed to all those who wish to know the heritage and tradition of a historical city, which during the last 50 years has been occupied, enclosed, inaccessible and its religious monuments stripped, altered and destroyed.
Exhibition curator:
– Dr. Christodoulos Hatzichristodoulou
– Dr. Andreas Foulias
– Dr. Christina Kakkura
Location: Old Church of Agios Georgios, Paralimni
Exhibition duration: February 5 – March 15, 2024
Hours: February 5-10: 09:00-13:00 and 15:00-18:00 // February 11-March 15: 09:00-13:00
Admission is free