The Catholic Church in Cyprus is part of the worldwide
Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
, under the spiritual leadership of the
Pope
The pope ( la, papa, from el, πάππας, translit=pappas, 'father'), also known as supreme pontiff ( or ), Roman pontiff () or sovereign pontiff, is the bishop of Rome (or historically the patriarch of Rome), head of the worldwide Cathol ...
in
Rome
, established_title = Founded
, established_date = 753 BC
, founder = King Romulus (legendary)
, image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg
, map_caption ...
.
Description
There are around 10,000 Catholic faithful in Cyprus, corresponding to just over 1% of the total population. Most Catholic worshippers are either
Maronite Cypriots
The Maronites in Cyprus, Maronite Cypriots, are an ethnoreligious group and/or members of the Maronite Catholic Archeparchy of Cyprus whose ancestors migrated from present-day Lebanon during the Middle Ages. A percentage of them traditionally ...
, under
Joseph Soueif
Joseph Antoine Soueif ( ar, يوسف انطوان سويف; born 14 July 1962) is a Lebanese clergyman serving as the Maronite Archbishop of Tripoli. He previously served as the bishop of the Maronite Catholic Archeparchy of Cyprus.
Life
Josep ...
Archeparch of the
Maronite Catholic Archeparchy of Cyprus
Maronite Catholic Archeparchy of Cyprus (Latin: ''Archeparchy Cyprensis Maronitarum'') is a seat of the Maronite Church immediately subject to the Holy See. It is currently ruled by Archeparch Joseph Soueif.
Territory and statistics
The archepa ...
, or
Latins, under the
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, with a Patriarchal Vicar General. The Roman catholic community of
Cyprus
Cyprus ; tr, Kıbrıs (), officially the Republic of Cyprus,, , lit: Republic of Cyprus is an island country located south of the Anatolian Peninsula in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Its continental position is disputed; while it is geo ...
(''Latinoi, Λατίνοι'') consists one of the three religious minorities of Cyprus, together with the
Armenians
Armenians ( hy, հայեր, ''hayer'' ) are an ethnic group native to the Armenian highlands of Western Asia. Armenians constitute the main population of Armenia and the ''de facto'' independent Artsakh. There is a wide-ranging diaspora ...
and
Maronites
The Maronites ( ar, الموارنة; syr, ܡܖ̈ܘܢܝܐ) are a Christian ethnoreligious group native to the Eastern Mediterranean and Levant region of the Middle East, whose members traditionally belong to the Maronite Church, with the larg ...
, according to the 1960 constitution and is represented in the Cypriot parliament.
The Latin Patriarchal Vicariate for Cyprus has four parishes:
* The
Holy Cross church in
Nicosia
Nicosia ( ; el, Λευκωσία, Lefkosía ; tr, Lefkoşa ; hy, Նիկոսիա, romanized: ''Nikosia''; Cypriot Arabic: Nikusiya) is the largest city, capital, and seat of government of Cyprus. It is located near the centre of the Mesaor ...
, with a dependent mission at the St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in
Kyrenia
Kyrenia ( el, Κερύνεια ; tr, Girne ) is a city on the northern coast of Cyprus, noted for its historic harbour and castle. It is under the ''de facto'' control of Northern Cyprus.
While there is evidence showing that the wider region ...
,
Northern Cyprus.
* The St. Mary of Graces Church in
Larnaca
Larnaca ( el, Λάρνακα ; tr, Larnaka) is a city on the south east coast of Cyprus and the capital of the district of the same name. It is the third-largest city in the country, after Nicosia and Limassol, with a metro population of 1 ...
.
* The
St. Catherine Catholic Church in
Limassol
Limassol (; el, Λεμεσός, Lemesós ; tr, Limasol or ) is a city on the southern coast of Cyprus and capital of the district with the same name. Limassol is the second largest urban area in Cyprus after Nicosia, with an urban population ...
.
* The St. Paul Catholic Church in
Paphos
Paphos ( el, Πάφος ; tr, Baf) is a coastal city in southwest Cyprus and the capital of Paphos District. In classical antiquity, two locations were called Paphos: Old Paphos, today known as Kouklia, and New Paphos.
The current city of Pap ...
.
The Sisters of St. Bruno and Bethlehem have a small convent at
Mesa Chorio
Mesa Chorio ( gr, Μέσα Χωριό) is a village in the Paphos District of Cyprus, located 1 km east of Mesogi.
Topography
A small settlement standing at an elevation of 315 meters on the outskirts of the city, it offers views of the re ...
served by the parish priest of Paphos. A recently constructed hospice provides palliative care, regardless of nationality or religious persuasion.
There is also a Catholic presence through chapels and chaplains serving British military personnel, staff and dependents in the
Sovereign Base Areas
Akrotiri and Dhekelia, officially the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia (SBA),, ''Periochés Kyríarchon Váseon Akrotiríou ke Dekélias''; tr, Ağrotur ve Dikelya İngiliz Egemen Üs Bölgeleri is a British Overseas Territory ...
of the island that were established in 1960.
Sacred sites in Cyprus
Many of the religious sites in Cyprus can be traced to early Byzantine foundations, built before the
East-West Schism
East West (or East and West) may refer to:
* East–West dichotomy, the contrast between Eastern and Western society or culture
Arts and entertainment
Books, journals and magazines
*''East, West'', an anthology of short stories written by Salm ...
between Rome and Constantinople in the 11th century. Their architecture and iconography reveal a profound influence on ecclesial building traditions still in use in the
Cypriot Orthodox Church
The Church of Cyprus ( el, Ἐκκλησία τῆς Κύπρου, translit=Ekklisia tis Kyprou; tr, Kıbrıs Kilisesi) is one of the autocephalous Greek Orthodox churches that together with other Eastern Orthodox churches form the communion ...
. In the Middle Ages, Cyprus was ruled by a Frankish aristocracy, the
Lusignan
The House of Lusignan ( ; ) was a royal house of French origin, which at various times ruled several principalities in Europe and the Levant, including the kingdoms of Jerusalem, Cyprus, and Armenia, from the 12th through the 15th centuries duri ...
dynasty. They favoured the Gothic style when establishing cathedrals and monasteries. The former Catholic Augustinian Cloister of
Bellapais near Kyrenia was transferred to Orthodox Church authorities when the Ottomans conquered Cyprus at the end of the 16th century.
Other Gothic churches were converted to mosques, for example Saint Sophia Cathedral, now
Selimiye Mosque (Nicosia)
Selimiye Mosque ( el, Τέμενος Σελιμιγιέ ''Témenos Selimigié''; tr, Selimiye Camii), historically known as Cathedral of Saint Sophia or Ayasofya Mosque ( tr, Ayasofya Camii), is a former Christian cathedral converted into a mosq ...
, and Saint Nicholas Cathedral in
Famagusta, now the
Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque
The Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque ( tr, Lala Mustafa Paşa Camii), originally known as the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas and later as the Saint Sophia (Ayasofya) Mosque of Mağusa, is the largest medieval building in Famagusta, Cyprus. Built between 129 ...
.
References
External links
The Latin Catholic Church of CyprusThe Maronite Eparchy of CyprusThe Holy Cross Church in Nicosia
{{Asia topic, Catholic Church in, groupstyle=background-color:gold, titlestyle=background-color:gold
Cyprus
Cyprus ; tr, Kıbrıs (), officially the Republic of Cyprus,, , lit: Republic of Cyprus is an island country located south of the Anatolian Peninsula in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Its continental position is disputed; while it is geo ...
Cyprus
Cyprus ; tr, Kıbrıs (), officially the Republic of Cyprus,, , lit: Republic of Cyprus is an island country located south of the Anatolian Peninsula in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Its continental position is disputed; while it is geo ...