Cyprus Church to open office in Brussels

Archbishop of the Church of Cyprus Chrysostomos II and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew have agreed to the opening of a Church of Cyprus office in Brussels.
The primate of the Greek Orthodox Church of Cyprus and Patriarch Bartholomew met in Georgia, where they participated in the celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Patriarch Elias assumption of duties and the 1,400 years since the establishment of the ancient monastery of the Holy Cross.
Archbishop Chrysostomos returned to Cyprus via Paris where he had several meetings with religious and state officials.
Speaking in Nicosia, the Archbishop said that together with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew they discussed issues concerning the Church and Orthodoxy.
“For us Patriarch Bartholomew is the Patriarch of the nation and from this point of view we move forward and confront the several issues that appear”, he said.
As regards his visit to France Archbishop Chrysostomos said he met with Archbishop of Paris, whom he briefed on the Cyprus issue, focusing on the destruction of the Cypriot cultural and religious heritage in the Turkish occupied north of the island.
The Archbishop further said that during a meeting with the German Ambassador in Nicosia he expressed the wish to meet with the German Chancellor Angela Merkel and discuss the issue of Cyprus’ stolen icons currently held by the Bavarian authorities.
He added that he will raise the same issue with the Pope in Napoli, where he will be next Saturday and ask for his contribution.
Referring to the health of Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos, who is being treated for cancer, the Cypriot Archbishop said that he called him and expressed warm wishes for a speedy recovery.