The Anglican Church of Paphos celebrated its Golden Jubilee on Sunday, in a special service held at Ayia Kyriaki with Bishop Sean preaching and presiding.

Reflecting on the first reading, Bishop Sean said, “the priestly scribe of Leviticus calls on his people to sound the trumpet to hallow the fiftieth year, and to proclaim a year of Jubilee. This year is a ‘double Jubilee’ for the Anglican faithful of Paphos, as both their parish and diocese celebrate Golden Anniversaries.”

Indeed the occasion marked 50 years since the first Anglican service was held at the Church of St Antony (Ayios Antonios), on Easter Sunday 18 April 1976—a service of Holy Communion conducted by Bishop Leonard Ashton.

In 1988, the congregation moved from St Antony to Ayia Kyriaki—a church shared, as was St Antony’s, with the Latin Catholics, thanks to the continued and gracious generosity of the Greek Orthodox Church.

The Anglican Chaplaincy of Paphos was created in 1992, with a new church planted in Tala in 2001–dedicated to St Stephen–and in 2006 St Luke Prodromi came into being. The three congregations of Ayia Kyriaki, St Stephen’s and St Luke’s now constitute the Anglican Church of Paphos.

“What stands out for me as we look back on the history of this parish is how, for the majority of the 20th Century, Paphos had neither priest nor permanent premises,” said Bishop Sean. But, he added, “we are here—by God’s grace. And so let us humbly give thanks to Almighty God for the guidance, protection and provision our Diocese and parish have received over 50 years and more. And let us also recognise with deep gratitude the faith, commitment and sacrifices of our Anglican forebears who have prepared the ground and planted the seeds that we are watering and nurturing.

“As Christians we believe that the future lies in God’s hands—only the Risen Christ, the Lamb that was slain, is worthy to break the seven seals of the scroll of human history and unroll it to its rightful conclusion.”

Photo credit: Sarah Sait; Canon Georgia Katsantonis