The miraculous icon of Panagia Soumela, which is located in Vermio, Veria, arrives on Friday, May 8, 2015 at the Metropolitan Church of Agios Georgios in Paralimni for a pilgrimage.
As Metropolitan Constantia - Famagusta Vassilios stated to the Cyprus News Agency, "for the first time the miraculous icon of Panagia Soumela is coming to Cyprus. The Monastery of Panagia Soumela itself is located in Trabzon and when the Hellenes left Pontus they took the icon with them to Greece and built a monastery in the area of Veria where the miraculous icon is kept ". He added that" in the context of the celebrations for patron of the Diocese of Constantia - Famagusta, the Holy Epiphany, Bishop of Constantia who is honored on May 12, we had asked the Metropolitan of Veria to bring to Cyprus for pilgrimage the icon of Panagia Soumela ". He also said that of Panagia Soumela in Cyprus also has a national content. I want to wish the Virgin Mary to be the roof of our homeland and we hope to soon have a just solution to the Cyprus problem so that we can operate the churches of the Virgin Mary located in our occupied areas. "As Metropolitan Basil revealed," we intend to establish a monastery in our area which will be dedicated to Panagia Soumela "having in mind that Panagia Soumela was famous throughout the region of Pontus and is honored not only by the Pontians but also by Russians, Georgians and others. Answering a relevant question by Metropolitan Constantias He said that "this is the first time that we ask the miraculous icon of Panagia Soumela to come to Cyprus for a pilgrimage, our request was accepted and so the Cypriot Hellenism will have the opportunity to visit the Church of Agios Georgios in Paralimni to worship the icon The image will be transferred to Cyprus by the Metropolitan of Veria, Naoussa and Campania Panteleimon. The miraculous image will arrive at Larnaca airport around one in the afternoon and then will be transported to Paralimni. The official reception of the image will take place at 18.30 on Friday, May 8, 2015 at the Metropolitan Church of Agios Georgios, where it will remain until Saturday. May 16, 2015.Source: KYPE