A Time of Passion

Posted on by April 9, 2015

On Palm Sunday 2015, The Passion Play, The Way of the Cross, was staged in the grounds of Ayia Kyriaki, the Roman Catholic Parish Church of St. Paul’s Pillar, Paphos, Cyprus.

Here Beverly Peberdy, a member of the Congregation, asks the organizer, Father Miguel, what inspired him to put on such an ambitious production.

‘Where are you from Father Miguel?’

IMG_2813‘I am from Buenos Aires, Argentina. I was ordained as a Priest in 2008 in Mendoza, Argentina, into the Religious family of the INCARNATE WORD, IVE.’

‘How do you think your second production of The Passion of Christ went and why did you put it on again?’

IMG_2823‘Last year we received a truly positive and enthusiastic response from the vast number of people who attended and took part. They found it a deeply moving, spiritual and inspirational experience. Many were moved to tears as they were reminded about how our dear Lord suffered for us and what Easter is really all about.’

‘This gave us all the opportunity to come together, many nations, many Christian denominations, different religions – this is because Jesus died to make humanity one in Himself.’

‘Was this production better than the first?’

IMG_2832‘No matter how many times Christ’s crucifixion is enacted, the basic truth is still the same, He died for us, to take away all our sins and to give us everlasting life. I don’t believe is possible to ever improve on this.’

‘The Way of the Cross is a strong devotion in the Christian tradition. The Passion Play represents living images of Jesus’ journey or way to the cross. Our idea was to help people to pray, become close to Jesus and feel His suffering, which He endured for our sake.’

‘Why did you wish to do this – what was your motivation?’

IMG_2881‘Because of the love of Jesus for us, for each of us – I wished to show this. From the very beginning we wished to reach everyone as Jesus did.’

‘You staged the Passion Play in the grounds of Ayia Kyriaki, the Roman Catholic Church of St. Pauls’ Pillar. Why was the setting so important?’

IMG_2919‘This is a very special place because St. Paul first preached Christianity here to the Romans and local Cypriot people. For this, local tradition says, he was tied to a pillar and scourged as Jesus was. There exists a strong link between the suffering of Jesus and St. Paul.’

‘Was this a Roman Catholic only production?’

IMG_2955‘It was organized by the Roman Catholic Church and all denominations and religions were invited and joined us and participated.’

‘Who were the cast – were they professionals? Had anyone any previous experience?’

IMG_2990‘Not really! The experience grew as we rehearsed.’

‘What was the idea behind having the actors miming the scenes and two narrators speaking the words?’

IMG_2997‘To highlight the actual Gospel in its wholeness. This enabled our audience to follow the events with their eyes and also to listen to the poignant and deeply spiritual words.’

‘Was the reaction any different from last year, even though for many it was their second time to see this?’

IMG_3011‘No, again our audience sang, prayed and many wept. Their response was profoundly moving and wonderful for us all as we shared in our dear Lord’s suffering.’

‘Do you and those involved plan to stage the Passion of Christ: The Way of the Cross again?’

IMG_3019‘Yes, we hope to make this an annual event. Jesus Christ gave his life for us over 2,000 years ago, that we should be forgiven our sins, be free to enter heaven and everlasting life. It is crucial we never forget his divine sacrifice.’

 

Christmas Message

Posted on by December 20, 2014

We read in St. Lk 2:7, “and she gave birth to a son, her first-born. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the Inn.” A former Archbishop of New York and a great Pastor, Fulton Sheen, said commenting this: “There was no room in the inn, but it was in the barn. The inn represented the mundane … “That Inn represents all and every person, institution and every thing that does not receive Christ, the only Savior of the world. God in His infinite love is still coming to us in many ways, in every Christmas. We can receive Him if we open our heart to his divine love and let him transform us in other Christ, in the children of God. On the first Sunday of December our Patriarch Fouad Towal told us “you are the Holy Land”. We can say “you are Bethlehem! In your hearts, with Faith and Charity, you can let Christ be born again and make you the son or the daughter of God that has found the hidden treasure, Jesus. As He said “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, for so it was to your liking.” (Mt. 11:25) Let the all pure Virgin Mary Mother of God, help us to receive the Lord in our heart, to keep Him in our life and to bring Him to the whole world in our way of living.

We pray that the Virgin Mary may bring us all together as one family to receive the “child” that has been born for us. The Father made us His family in Christ. Come, Lord Jesus, come! Wish you all a very blessed Christmas and a happy new year!! God bless you all!

Fr. Carlos Ferrero, Parish Priest

Pilgrimage to UNESCO Chapels in East Troodos

Posted on by November 29, 2014

A day at Pelendri and Palaichori

1507605_893650337335869_8758832480833943153_n (1)
1507605_893650337335869_8758832480833943153_n
1606263_893130987387804_5881021824281144644_o
1658331_893139820720254_8079458725189254104_o
10265542_893130297387873_8197913826168993624_o
10295354_893139517386951_982720838573172977_o
10365626_893139467386956_7622621605884073051_o
10365885_893650240669212_7853387022227989167_n
10380104_893115904055979_7179815026977752948_o
10431200_893115270722709_6273789830260507101_o
10472771_893130880721148_285685346111453796_o
10495355_893130944054475_3468187891876137428_o
10548162_893116374055932_7744962311830054836_o
10620460_893130184054551_6490902264975121129_o
10629246_893116160722620_2201182723956543203_o
10636896_893129977387905_4533819098017600246_o
10682448_893139577386945_4988596641938857816_o
10683401_893131037387799_6264261171963248400_o
1492539_893130580721178_6129894680495599654_o
10714258_893130730721163_1657209570362181918_o

1 2 ... 4

As we prepare to close the liturgical year A and welcome the time of Advent prior to Christmas, a pilgrimage was organized for our parish of Saint Paul in Paphos.

Three small buses were hired; they had to be small in order to negotiate the narrow roads of those ancient villages on the heights of Troodos Mountain.

Our first stop was the church dedicated to the Holy Cross at Pelendri. At an altitude of 880m at the southern end of the village, the Holy Cross church was built at the end of the 12th century.

Originally a one-aisled domed basilica, it was extended in later times by a northern and southern aisles. The frescoes that decorate its walls date from the 12th and 14th centuries and reflect different iconographic styles: the Cappadocian which is the oldest, the Palaeologian (from Constantinople) and the Cretan.

In the northern aisle a heraldic seal dated from the middle fourteenth century on a painting reveals that that part of church was used as a private chapel by the Latin feudal lord Jean de Lusignan brother of Pierre de Lusignan, then, king of Cyprus. Jean de Lusignan and his wife are kneeling at either side of the feet of Jesus depicted showing his wounds to Thomas.

After an inspiring inspection of the interior of the church we all gathered outside to celebrate the Holy Mass. Although permission was granted to celebrate inside the church, our numbers would not allow it, being about ninety persons. F. Miguel celebrated the Holy Eucharist under the distant rumblings of thunder and the threat of imminent rain. However, no rain came and everything went on smoothly.

A minor problem in one of our buses forced us to remain longer at Pelendri and had our lunch there, in the open air by a beautiful little park.

Our next destination was the nearby village of Palaichori, where we visited two more UNESCO protected painted churches. First, the church of Panaghia Chrysopantanassa, (our Lady, Golden Queen of the Universe) at a central and picturesque street of the village. Its frescoes date from the 16th century and again its donors were Latin, Venetian this time.

Below there are pictures of a road at Palaichori (with f. Miguel walking in the middle of the street), the church of Pantanassa (western view) and the original icon of Panaghia Chrysopantanassa found therein.

A local resident, Mr. Kyriakos, was very kind to serve as our guide and led us through the beautiful art treasures of the church. We spent a considerable time there admiring the awe inspiring icons and drinking avidly the perennial spiritual atmosphere of Oriental Christianity.

As it was a fresh and rainy day, we lingered near there and found hospitable traditional cafés for a warm respite.

Then, after a short drive we reached the most beautiful church of the Transfiguration of our Lord, (Aghià Sotéra) which, in order to have its external western murals protected, had a second extended roof and western and southern wall built.

Above, the western entrance and views of the first western and southern wall with the frescoes on either side of the original entrance. Below, the Virgin Mary enthroned holding Jesus on the left of the entrance.

The beauty of the icons, the scenes they depict, their vivid colours, their arrangement, all indicate the spiritual fervour and economic prosperity of Palaichori in the 16th century at the time of the Venetian hegemony.

For us, however, citizens of the modern world, who must needs to live and work in the increasingly challenging conditions of the 21st century, the pilgrimage to the Christian treasures at Troodos on the very day of the feast of Christ King of the Universe, has been one more weapon in the armoury of our Christian virtues of hope, of perseverance and of endurance. The realization that we belong to this unceasing stream of spiritual life and creation that is the Church, gives us a particular vision of the world. A vision of courage and optimism, of service and sacrifice, of faith and love.

After all, we know that the world belongs to us and we belong to Christ and Christ belongs to God. (1 Cor. 3, 21-23). All sovereignty and power are His, we are in good hands! Happy Advent!

Irene Meerman, 23 Nov. 2014