Maronite Cathedral of Our Lady of Graces
The main church of the Maronites, one of the three religious groups of Cyprus
The story
This is the main church of the Maronites of Cyprus. It stands by Paphos Gate in old Nicosia. Maronites are Catholics of the Eastern, Antiochene rite; they came to the island in several waves, starting in the early Middle Ages. According to the Press and Information Office, a church has stood on this site since the seventeenth century. The present building was rebuilt in 1959 to 1961 and formally opened on October 28, 1961. In 1974 all four Maronite villages, Kormakitis, Asomatos, Karpasia and Agia Marina, ended up in the north of the island, which the Republic of Cyprus has not controlled since. At that time this cathedral was the only Maronite church in the south. Pope Benedict the Sixteenth came here in 2010, and Pope Francis in 2021.
The 1960 Constitution recognizes three religious groups: Maronites, Armenians and Latins; in the 1960 referendum they chose the Greek Cypriot community. Today each group elects its own representative to the House of Representatives, who attends sessions but does not vote.
Visiting
A working cathedral: 8 Agiou Maronos (Saint Maron) Street, by Paphos Gate. According to the archeparchy, liturgies are held on Sunday mornings and Saturday evenings. Check the schedule before you visit. Cover up, and keep quiet during services.
On the way
Photos
Sources
- Γραφείο Τύπου και Πληροφοριών (PIO): «Οι Μαρωνίτες της Κύπρου», 2012 (ΓΤΠ 390/2012) — religious groups and the representative in the House, 1974, 17th-century church, rebuilding in 1959–1961, timeline (28.10.1961, visit of Benedict XVI on 6.06.2010)
- Maronite Archeparchy of Cyprus — Cathedral of Our Lady of Graces, Nicosia (address and services)
- The Holy See — Benedict XVI, Visit at the Cathedral of the Maronite Church of Cyprus (Nicosia, 6 June 2010)
- The Holy See — Francis, meeting at the Maronite Cathedral of Our Lady of Grace in Nicosia (2 December 2021)
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