An Archieratic concelebration was held today at the Holy Church of St. Barbara at Plati in Aglantzia by Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus on the day of the commemoration of St. Barbara.
In this Festal Divine Liturgy, Bishop Grigorios of Mesaoria and the clergy of the archdiocese concelebrated with the Archbishop.
The Primate of Cyprus pointed out to the congregation that “although St. Barbara did not succeed in being born into a Christian environment, since her parents were idolaters, and in particular her father was in favor of idolatry, he, however, offered her education and wellbeing, but he also built a wall for her, in case that the Christians might lure her into the faith of our Lord, the Resurrected Jesus of Nazareth.
Her wet nurse, though illiterate, offered to our Saint all the supplies, all the meaning of Christ’s martyrdom. She opened her heart and let the Triune God act within her, freely strengthening and directing her in the path of salvation. Neither the father’s threats nor the whole empire scared St. Barbara; instead she overcame all difficulties and martyrdom. She died young, but it is important that she achieved her goal of becoming a citizen of the heavenly kingdom. Where we are all destined to. We have sinned but God’s love could not leave His creature away. That is why He sent His Son too to show us the sacrifice and to lead us where we belong. Christ wants the salvation of us all. We all belong to God. The greatest joy we can give to our Saint is to experience and follow the truths of the Gospel. I wish that we all follow the life of our Saint. And just as she achieved her goal, so we follow this path along with the saints and Christ.”
