Aristedes Viketou
May 5, 2012
With Byzantine splendor Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus celebrated today, 5 May 2012, the consecration of the Church of God's Wisdom in Strovolos, which is the largest in Cyprus - 60 meters in length, 30 meters in width, and 30 meters in height.
Archbishop Chrysostomos sanctified the Holy Altar with Holy Myrrh and other aromatic oils. The Altar is an exact copy of that in the Archdiocesan Church of Tbilisi in Georgia. Co-liturgists with the Archbishop were Metropolitan Panteleimon of Koronias of the Church of Greece, who preached the holy sermon, Metropolitan Savvas of the Patriarchate of Georgia, and the Titular Bishops of Karpasia, Mesaoria, and Neapolis. Panteleimon of Koronias stressed the importance of the Orthodox Temple, "which is the house of the living God, and the place of Orthodox worship, which climaxes with the Mystery of the Divine Eucharist."
The church was designed by church architect Fano Loizides and constructed along the lines of the Great Church of Christ, that of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople (though not a true copy), after a Cyprus-wide architectural competition.
The feast is celebrated on Mid-Pentecost.
It (underground) has three chapels, of which one is simultaneously a baptistery for both children and adults.
There is also a large banquet hall, used for weddings and other events.
Translated by John Sanidopoulos