The Archbishop’s Christmas message

By a Staff Reporter

ARCHBISHOP Chrysostomos in his Christmas message to the people calls on Greek Cypriots to welcome Jesus into their lives as the “light and salvation”, and to unite in a common struggle against the occupied Turkish forces.

In his encyclical to the people, which will be read from the pulpits in all churches today, the Archbishop says that mankind has been suffering because although many have adopted Christ’s teachings, only few put them into practice.

“People shut their eyes and ears to His voice, bewitched by earthly temptations,” he says.

Chrysostomos says that if peace in Cyprus is to be “permanent and real”, it must be built on foundations of genuine love and justice. “Love must triumph in people’s hearts” so that mankind can find true peace in society.

He invites the world’s superpowers to question “how peace can be found in oppression? How can it be found when someone is thrown out of his home? Or when an oppressive force enslaves and stamps out all basic human rights? When death threatens daily?” if they want to implement peace on earth.

He says powers must come together and co-operate to protect both their own interests and the rights of smaller civilisations and to see that justice is done, because “without justice and love, peace is non-existent and superficial”.

Chrysostomos also says that political rivalries and ambitions have no place in fighting for a common, national struggle. Greek Cypriots must work together and rid the island of the occupying force, he says: “Only then will the country be reunited, people will return to their homes, and trust will foster between Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots once more”.

The Archbishop concludes with a message of peace, joy, faith and perseverance, and that justice, freedom and peace finds its way to Cyprus and

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.