Archbishop Chrysostomos meets Primate of All England

The Archbishop of Canterbury has invited Archbishop Chrysostomos II to visit Britain. The head of the Greek Orthodox Church of Cyprus Archbishop Chrysostomos II and the Archbishop of Canterbury, metropolitan of the province of Canterbury, Primate of All England and head of the worldwide Anglican Communion Rowan D. Williams, met in Naples, where they participate at the international meeting between leaders of the world’s main religions.

During the meeting Chrysostomos II has asked for the contribution of the Anglican Primate as regards the promotion of the issue of the destruction of cultural and religious heritage of Cyprus in the Turkish occupied north of the island.

The Cypriot Archbishop underlined the issue of the monastery of Apostle Andreas, situated in the Turkish occupied Karpass peninsula in the eastern edge of the island, which is in urgent need of restoration and invited the Anglican Primate to visit Cyprus and see with his own eyes the destruction and looting.

According to reliable sources, the Archbishop of Canterbury proposed that Chrysostomos II visited Great Britain instead, stating that he is ready to contribute to the promotion of the issue of the destruction of cultural and religious heritage of Cyprus. The head of the Greek Orthodox Church of Cyprus accepted the invitation.

Chrysostomos II also met with professor Andrea Riccardi, founder of the Roman Catholic lay community of Sant’Egidio, with whom he discussed issues concerning this year’s Encounter titled “A World Without Violence: Faiths and Cultures in Dialogue”.

Today the Archbishop participated at the Holy Mass celebrated by the Pope Benedict XVI in Piazza del Plebiscito, in the presence of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomaios I and later on he will attend the lunch hosted by the Pope.