The ordination and enthronement of the new Metropolitan of Paphos, Gregory, will take place on Thursday.
Today, Thursday, is the commemoration of the Apostle Barnabas, founder and patron of the Church of Cyprus. The epicenter of the celebrations is the resplendent Cathedral of the Apostle Barnabas in Nicosia, where an Episcopal Liturgy is being celebrated by the head of the Archbishop of Cyprus, George.
The representative of the Ecumenical Patriarch, His Eminence Metropolitan Bartholomew of Smyrna, as well as members of the Holy Synod of the Church of Cyprus, are participating in the co-liturgy. The Divine Liturgy began at around 07:15 in the morning, while the exclamation of "Axios" to the new Metropolitan of Paphos is expected to take place between 08:10 and 08:40.
During the Divine Liturgy, the Ordination of His Eminence, Metropolitan-elect of Paphos Gregory, as Bishop, takes place, marking the official assumption of his episcopal duties.
At the same time, supporters of the former Metropolitan of Paphos Tychikos have announced a protest rally outside the Cathedral of the Apostle Barnabas, starting at 08:00 in the morning.
The events for the new page in the Holy Metropolis of Paphos continue in the afternoon of the same day. At 18:00 the enthronement of the new Metropolitan of Paphos will take place at the Metropolitan Church of Saint Theodore in Paphos. The new Metropolitan will be accompanied by Archbishop George of Cyprus and members of the Holy Synod.
It is recalled that yesterday, Wednesday, June 10, at 18:00, before the solemn vespers at the Cathedral of the Apostle Barnabas in Nicosia, the Service of the Message on the Election of the new Metropolitan of Paphos, Mr. Gregory, was held.
At the same time, speeches and events are expected to take place.
The elected Metropolitan of Paphos, Gregory (Ioannides), was born in January 1973 and grew up in Galata. He was ordained a deacon on July 22, 2007 and a presbyter on August 6 of the same year by His Holiness Metropolitan Varnavas of Trimythous.
For the last 19 years, he served as the First Bishop of the Holy Metropolis of Trimythous, while he was a member of the Throne Committee and head of the Office of Ecclesiastical Ministry and Enlightenment of the Metropolis. In this context, he was responsible for the operation of Christian Women's Associations, Bible Circles, as well as for the organization of speeches, lectures, seminars, student conferences and camps.
