Fundraiser in memory of Peter Ives
Dear Cyprus Clergy
It is with real regret and sadness that I write to inform you that after 14 years of ministry, the Katafiyio Retreat House will close on 31 December 2020.
We have been led to make this decision due to Covid-19 and a minimal number of bookings received this year. In the coming months we do not expect this situation to change. This has meant a big loss of income to cover the running of the house. The Diocese is also suffering financially and there is a need to save costs. We plan to have a final act of remembrance and thanksgiving to God at Katafiyio in December. Sadly, again due to Covid restrictions, we cannot issue an open invitation to this event. However, if you would like to send an item of remembrance or thanksgiving that you would like included on this day, please do forward this to me. These words will be kept in a book of remembrance and thanksgiving.
But it’s not all bad news! PLEASE read on.
Many of you have benefited so much from the rest, reflection and prayer opportunity that Katafiyio has provided over the years. Many of you have returned year after year to be refreshed in this place and we know you will miss it. We are therefore currently considering the possibility of a new home for Katafiyio which will open up new and exciting possibilities for the future. We hope to send you further details in the near future and that we will continue to be able to facilitate you going on retreat on this beautiful island.
As we come to the end of something special and look forward to what lies ahead in this season of Advent, know that your physical, mental and spiritual well-being is continued to be thought of, prayed about and planned for. We look forward to keeping in touch.
Wishing you God’s blessing in these uncertain times,
Maggie
Maggie Le-Roy
Retreats Facilitator
Anglican Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf
MBE FOR CHRIS HOWITZ
We are pleased to record that Her Majesty the Queen has conferred the award of an MBE on the Reverend Christopher Howitz, making him a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, for services to the community in Oman. He and his wife Nicole have lived in Muscat for the last eight years. Congratulations to them and to their sons Joshua and Daniel.
From Qatar to Wyoming
We warmly congratulate Canon Paul-Gordon Chandler, senior priest at the Epiphany Qatar, on his election as Bishop of Wyoming in the USA. It is planned that he will be ordained bishop and begin ministry in Wyoming early in 2021.
We pray for Paul-Gordon, his wife Lynne, and their family, as well as for the people of the Epiphany Qatar.
Supporting the Diocesan learning community
Appointments to two new roles in support of the Diocesan learning community have been announced.
The Reverend Kent Middleton, parish priest of St Luke Ras Al Khaimah, has accepted the role of Chaplain to the learning community.
“This a valuable pastoral role,” said Archbishop Michael, “accompanying those in the process of deepening Christian education and formation, particularly in and around key moments of discernment.”
Dr Angel Afolabi, based in Bahrain, is to be Warden of Readers.
Archbishop Michael said, “It will be a delight to have a serving Reader as Warden, especially one who possesses such inspiring energy and drive.”
The Diocesan learning community consists of those recommended for training for a licensed ministry and those currently in training, extending to include those two to three years post-Licensing/Ordination.
Fr Kent and Dr Afolabi join the Ministry Team, alongside Director of Ministry Canon Dr John Holdsworth, Archdeacon Christopher Futcher, the Reverend Canon Harrison Chinnakumar, the Reverend Canon Dr Paul Burt and Dr Helen Perry.
Message from the Dean:
Dear Members of St Paul’s. It is with great sadness that I announce that Peter Ives sadly died yesterday the 13th of September after a long brave fight. Throughout this time he never lost his sense of humour, great character or sense of commitment to the Cathedral. He passed the day after many came together to celebrate the success of his 2020 Sing A Thon when he raised another large amount for Church Mission and Ministry.
The funeral service is planned for Monday 21st September 11 am at the Cathedral followed by burial at the British Cemetery Nicosia. Thereafter there will be a reception at the Deanery.
We send all our love to Hilary and his family and friends.
ANNOUNCEMENT
Archbishop Michael and the Churchwardens are delighted to announce the appointment of the Reverend Ian Nicholson as parish priest of St Barnabas Limassol and St Lazarus Pissouri, and Diocesan Discipleship Adviser.
Fr Ian, originally ordained in New Zealand, is currently a non-stipendiary priest in the Anglican Church of the Epiphany in Doha, Qatar. He and his wife Carol will be moving to Cyprus towards the end of October. His licensing will take place after he has completed the required period of self-isolation on a date to be arranged.
FOR YOUR PRAYERS
Bishop Michael is sad to let you know that Selvarani, wife of Fr Harrison Chinnakumar, parish priest of Holy Trinity Dubai, has died after a short illness. She was at Fr Harrison‘s family home in Tirunelveli. A memorial service led by Bishop Michael will be held at Holy Trinity Dubai on Saturday 16th November at 11 am.
We hold Harrison, Gracia, and Samuel in prayer and ask God to grant that his daughter Selvarani may know rest eternal, light, and glory. Amen.
Georgia Katsantonis
PA to the Bishop
Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf
THE EPIPHANY QATAR: NEW SENIOR PRIEST
Bishop Michael is pleased to announce the appointment of Canon Paul-Gordon Chandler as the new senior priest of the Epiphany Qatar.
Fr Paul-Gordon is currently an Appointed Mission Partner of the US Episcopal Church with a focus on the Middle East and North Africa Region and also President and CEO of Caravan, an NGO using the arts in the service of peace, which he founded while Rector for ten years of St John Maadi, Cairo, in the Diocese of Egypt.
He and his wife Lynne expect to arrive in Doha later in the autumn, and the Bishop will license him on a date to be announced.
Please pray for Fr Paul-Gordon and his wife Lynne, for Canon Jebaraj Devasagayam and the other clergy of Qatar, and all who meet there in the various congregations of the church of the Epiphany.
+Michael
The following announcement has been made by the office of the Bishop of Cyprus and the Gulf
Father Jim for Jebel Ali
The next parish priest of Christ Church Jebel Ali in the Emirate of Dubai is to be the Reverend James Young.
Fr Jim currently serves at St Thomas Chesapeake in the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia. He has previously ministered across the USA in Louisiana, Texas, California and Oregon as well as the Commonwealth of Virginia, together with a period as Episcopal chaplain of Stanford University.
Pray for Jim and his wife Sheryl, who expect to arrive in the Gulf in the early autumn. Bishop Michael will formally license him at Christ Church on Friday 15 November.
The following announcement has been made by the office of the Bishop of Cyprus and the Gulf
Harry goes East
The Reverend Harry Hin Lai Ching has been appointed by Archbishop Paul Kwong of Hong Kong to be associate priest of St Paul’s in the Missionary Area of Macau.
Fr Harry, previously chaplain of the largely student-attended St Mark Famagusta in Cyprus, currently serves at Christ Church Jebel Ali in the Emirate of Dubai.
We pray for Harry and congratulate him on this new opportunity for ministry.
The following announcement has been made by the office of the Bishop of Cyprus and the Gulf
Faiz and John, Harrison and Chris
Bishop Michael is delighted to announce that in the autumn he will preside at the installation of four new honorary canons of the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf’s twin cathedrals, two for St Paul Nicosia and two for St Christopher Bahrain.
Fr Faiz Jerjes has over the course of the years been layman, Reader, deacon, and priest at St George’s Baghdad. As well as overseeing the worship and pastoral care of the church and the smooth functioning of the clinic he has masterminded the establishment of a large kindergarten and recently the building of the Al Fadi Anglican primary school. Faiz has been honoured in Iraq for his imaginative initiatives in promoting peace and human flourishing across religions.
The Revd Dr John Holdsworth is a much-published scholar whose substantial service as territorial archdeacon in Cyprus and executive archdeacon for the whole diocese as well as parish priest of St Helena Larnaca and Diocesan Director of Ordinands and Ministry culminates in the summer. He will then serve for two transitional years as Honorary Director of Ministry with a brief to ensure, with others, the continuity of the vocation, discernment, and ministry project that he has done so much to foster. John previously served with distinction in the Church in Wales including a period as Principal of its theological college. He will be known as Canon Theologian.
The Revd Harrison Chinnakumar currently ministers as parish priest of Holy Trinity Dubai, tirelessly pastoring a large multi-ethnic congregation and watching over one of the busiest compounds in the diocese, hosting huge numbers of guest churches and fellowships. He came to the Gulf from the Church of South India. Before taking on Dubai he was incumbent of the parish of St Paul Kuwait, where Anglican worship is offered in Mandarin and Urdu as well as English and support is often given to Tamil congregations of our sister-Church the CSI.
The Revd Chris Butt was until his recent retirement the highly appreciated Dean of St Christopher’s Cathedral in Bahrain, another place with worshippers from many ethnic and national backgrounds. Under Chris’s imaginative leadership, frequent Living Room Dialogues brought to the deanery a fascinating range of distinguished and thought-provoking speakers from all walks of life, by no means all Christians, and showed wider society in the Kingdom of Bahrain the openness and welcome that must characterise Anglicanism. Chris brought to Bahrain the fruits of earlier discipleship and ministry in Kenya and Hong Kong as well as England. Canon Jerjes and Canon Holdsworth will be installed in Nicosia on Sunday 3 November. Canon Chinnakumar and Canon Butt will be installed in Bahrain on Friday 25 October.
Presidential address Synod 2018
Announcement from the Bishop
Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf
Three new deacons to be ordained
ANNOUNCEMENT
NEW DEAN FOR BAHRAIN
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Bishop Michael is very pleased to announce that the next Dean of St Christopher’s Cathedral, Manama, Bahrain, one of the two co-equal cathedrals of the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf, is to be the Venerable Dr Bill Schwartz OBE.
He will also continue to be Archdeacon in the Gulf, discharging his wider responsibilities and bringing to bear his wisdom and unrivalled experience in the region from this new location.
Please pray for Bill, his wife Edith, and the people of Bahrain as Bill prepares to start ministry there at the beginning of May. A formal celebration of his installation, led by the bishop, will take place at 6 pm on Saturday 1 June, to which all will be welcome.
ANNOUNCEMENT
THE REVEREND TIM HEANEY
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The Revd Tim Heaney, currently serving at Christ Church Jebel Ali in the chaplaincy of Dubai, Sharjah, and the Northern Emirates, is to become Rector of Shere, Albury, and Chilworth in the Diocese of Guildford and Province of Canterbury. He expects to be instituted and inducted there on a date to be announced in April 2019.
Pray for Tim, Diane, and their family as they prepare to move from the UAE to these villages in the Surrey hills.
ANNOUNCEMENT
A move, a retirement, and a special role
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The Revd Paul Davies moves in January from his post as senior priest at the Church of the Epiphany in Qatar, where he has served since 2015, to become priest in charge of All Saints Bedford and church growth officer for Bedford archdeaconry in the Diocese of St Albans. His final service in Doha will be on Friday 18 January 2019.
The Very Revd Chris Butt retires to Birmingham from his position as dean of St Christopher’s Cathedral, Manama, Bahrain at Easter 2019 after ministering there since 2009.
Finally, Bishop Michael has asked the Revd Charlotte Lloyd-Evans, currently at St Thomas Al Ain within the chaplaincy of Abu Dhabi, to take on the additional role of Warden of Readers in the diocese, supporting and promoting Readers in their licensed public ministry and acting as a point of reference for clergy and laity in matters related to Reader ministry and Reader ministry training.
Please pray for them and also for Sally, Tricia, and Gareth and their families.
ANNOUNCEMENT
Links with Lincs: The Revd Christine Goldsmith
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The Revd Christine Goldsmith, currently associate priest, St Barnabas Limassol, is to be Rector of the Leadenham Plurality in the Diocese of Lincoln in the Province of Canterbury.
She will minister across five churches in the rural mid-west of the County of Lincolnshire: St Swithun Leadenham, St Helen Brant Broughton, All Saints Beckingham, St Chad Welbourn,
and St Michael and All Angels Stragglethorpe. Her institution and induction will take place at a date to be announced.
We pray for Chris and Rick as they prepare to move to Britain and a new chapter in life and ministry.
Bishop Michael is pleased to announce that he will ordain Mrs Navina Thompson to the diaconate. Her curacy will include chaplaincy to students and others at St Mark Famagusta within the wider parish of Ammochostos. The ordination will take place at St Andrew Abu Dhabi, where she and her husband Canon Andy Thompson currently live and serve, on Friday 20 April shortly before she moves to Cyprus to take up her new ministry. Please pray and give thanks for Navina, Andy, and their family as well as for the people of St Mark Famagusta, the parish of Ammochostos, and Fr Martin Phillips-Last, parish priest.
The bishop is equally pleased to announce that he will ordain Mr Justin Arnott and Mr Peter Day to the diaconate on Saturday 7 July at St Paul’s Cathedral, Nicosia. Justin, who as Reader has been serving as lay chaplain at St Mark Famagusta, will be curate of the cathedral. Peter, also a Reader, will in his curacy continue to minister in the parish of Ammochostos. Pray and give thanks for Justin and Michelle, Peter and Joy, and the people of St Paul’s Cathedral and of the parish of Ammochostos, together with Dean Jeremy Crocker and Fr Martin Phillips-Last.
Please click on the link below to read all the reports submitted for the Annual General Meeting of Sunday, 18 March 2018
DIOCESAN ANNOUNCEMENT
Three new deacons to be ordained
Bishop Michael is pleased to announce that he will ordain Mrs Navina Thompson to the Diaconate. Her curacy will include chaplaincy to students and others at St Mark Famagusta within the wider parish of Ammochostos. The ordination will take place at St Andrew Abu Dhabi, where she and her husband Canon Andy Thompson currently live and serve, on Friday 20 April shortly before she moves to Cyprus to take up her new ministry. Please pray and give thanks for Navina, Andy, and their family as well as for the people of St Mark Famagusta, the parish of Ammochostos, and Fr Martin Phillips-Last, parish priest.
The bishop is equally pleased to announce that he will ordain Mr Justin Arnott and Mr Peter Day to the Diaconate on Saturday 7 July at St Paul’s Cathedral, Nicosia. Justin, who as Reader has been serving as lay chaplain at St Mark Famagusta, will be Assistant Curate of the Cathedral. Peter, also a Reader, will in his curacy continue to minister in the parish of Ammochostos. Pray and give thanks for Justin and Michelle, Peter and Joy, and the people of St Paul’s Cathedral and of the parish of Ammochostos, together with Dean Jeremy Crocker and Fr Martin Phillips-Last.
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Please click on the image below to download the Presidential Address to Synod 2018 by Bishop Michael Lewis.
DIOCESAN ANNOUNCEMENT
Bishop Michael is pleased to announce the appointment of the Revd Kent Middleton to be parish priest and chaplain of St Luke Ras al Khaimah and St Nicholas Fujairah within the Chaplaincy and Dubai, Sharjah, and the Northern Emirates. Fr Kent is at present curate and assistant priest of St Paul’s Cathedral Nicosia. A South African, he was a teacher in the United Arab Emirates and a worshipper at Christ Church Jebel Ali before the discernment process that led to his training and formation for ordained ministry. After studying at theological college in Cardiff he was deaconed by the Archbishop of Wales to serve for a year at Christ Church Roath Park in the Diocese of Llandaff, thus gaining further experience of the wider Church. At Ras al Khaimah and Fujairah he will succeed Fr Jon Lavelle, who after short but distinguished service there, and previously in Bahrain, is soon to move to Canada because of pressing family needs. Our prayers go with him and his wife Karen. Please pray for Kent as he prepares for the next stage of priestly ministry. His licensing is likely to be at St Luke’s on Saturday 14 April.
DIOCESAN ANNOUNCEMENT
Bishop Michael is pleased to announce the appointment of the Revd Canon Dr Andrew Mayes as parish priest and chaplain of St Barnabas Limassol, including St Lazarus Pissouri, and diocesan spirituality adviser. Canon Mayes is currently Rector of East Blatchington and Bishopstone, near Seaford, Sussex, and spirituality adviser in the Diocese of Chichester. His earlier ministry was in the dioceses of London, Chelmsford, and Birmingham, all in the Province of Canterbury. He has also served as course director at St George’s College, Jerusalem. As well as leading on spirituality in his present diocese he has also overseen continuing ministerial education. Please pray for Fr Andrew and his wife Ann as they prepare to move to the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf. A licensing date in early May will be confirmed in due course.
DIOCESAN ANNOUNCEMENT
On Thursday 3 May 2018 at St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral, Nicosia, Cyprus, the Bishop, The Right Reverend Michael Lewis, will confer clerical canonries on the Revd. Brian Elliott, the Revd Dr Paul Burt, and the Revd Bertrand Olivier.
The Revd Brian Elliott has been an army chaplain in various capacities for forty years, including a spell as Deputy Assistant Chaplian-General. He now serves as honorary assistant priest at St Paul’s Cathedral, Nicosia.
The Revd Dr Paul Burt has had a varied ordained ministry not only in parishes but also as teacher, house master, and school chaplain, latterly at Winchester College, and currently as a senior chaplain of the Mission to Seafarers in Dubai and Regional Director for the Gulf and South Asia. When he steps down from that post in the spring he will continue to live in the UAE.
The Revd Bertrand Olivier is soon to become Dean of Montreal Cathedral in Canada and will continue his already strong support of the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf. A Frenchman, he has been vicar of All Hallows by the Tower in London, our diocese’s host and base in the UK, for twelve years and is Bishop Michael’s Commissary.
All who are able are warmly encouraged to join the new canons at their installations. Your prayers and thanksgivings are asked for them and their families.
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500th ANNIVERSARY OF THE REFORMATION
On Tuesday, 31st October there will be a celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. It will take place at the Kastelliotissa Medieval Hall, near the Pallas Theatre.
A varied programme will commence at 4pm with an exhibition of old Bibles, photographs, video clips etc… There will be Bibles available in many languages. Personnel will be on hand to give explanation and to enter into discussion.
At 6.30pm light refreshments will be available and at 7pm there will be a Reformation anniversary lecture delivered by Radisa Antic PhD. Principal Lecturer in Systematic Theology at Newbold College, Binfield, Berkshire, UK. He lectures in ‘Issues in Contemporary Theology’ at postgraduate level, ‘History of Western Thought’, and ‘Reformation Theory’ at undergraduate level.
Music written by composers influenced by the Reformation will be performed by Cantabile and the audience will be able to join in a few hymns from the period.
Admission is free but in order to cater adequately, please text Marica Mirilov 99980312 to indicate you will be attending.
This programme is being organised and sponsored by the Seventh-day Adventist church as a community service.
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DIOCESAN ANNOUNCEMENT
The diocese is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Helen Perry to the post of Administration Officer. Helen will be based at the Diocesan Office in Nicosia and will begin work alongside existing staff, in September.
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Please click on the link to download the announcement of the Primacy Election in the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East.
Provincial Primacy Announcement
MAY FAYRE 2017
AGM held on Sunday 5 March 2017
Please click on the following link to read all the reports presented at the Annual General Meeting: AGM 2017 REPORTS
Lenten Study Series
On the five Mondays (6, 13, 20, 27 March & 3 April) in Lent the Cathedral will be offering a study series (7pm-9pm) on the book “Life Together” by Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
Please click the link to download a pdf version of the book: LIFE TOGETHER
Diocesan Synod 2017
Click to download the Bishop’s address: Presidential Address to Synod 2017
Wednesday, 1 February 2017
Following the tragic death of their younger son, George Isaac Andrew Lewis, Bishop Michael and Mrs Julia Lewis wish to announce that a Requiem Mass will be held at St Barnabas Anglican Church, Limassol, on Saturday 4th February at 1400. This will be followed by burial at a cemetery in the Kal Khorio area near Zoopigi at approximately 1600. This will be a public service and the family would be glad to be joined by those who wish to give thanks for George’s life and to commend him to God’s keeping.
Light refreshments will be provided at the Maramenos restaurant on the Limassol-Agros road near Zoopiyi, and all who attend are welcome to join the family there.
All who knew George recognised him as an intelligent, witty and talented young man. He was greatly loved and will be keenly missed. His death occurred at the family residence in the Limassol district, where he was staying whilst his parents were travelling. He was thirty-three.
At the church, the family have requested that there be family flowers only. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Anglican School of the Redeemer at St George’s Baghdad, c/o the Diocesan Finance Officer, Mrs Evangelia Georgakakis.
Please pray for Bishop Michael, Julia, their other children and their families at this difficult time.
Archdeacon John Holdsworth & Archdeacon Bill Schwartz
St Paul's Anglican Cathedral 