   | On the 24th day of April, 2015 the Church of St. Matrona was opened and consecrated in Paphos. A small church is located in a picturesque area of Peyia. The church was built due to the initiative of Mary Aerinioti and Andreas Anastasiadis, who experienced the miraculous power of St. Matrona. The place for construction of the temple was granted by the church at the suggestion of the bishop of Paphos, His Eminence Georgios. According to the bishop, the church will become a sacred place not only to Russian citizens, but also for the residents of Cyprus, as "love and faith in miracles unites all the people." The opening ceremony proceeded by liturgy and nocturn. On the 1st day of May 2015 the liturgy dedicated to Saint Matrona took place. The Honorary Consul of the Russian Federation in Paphos, Dr. George Prodromou, took part in both ceremonies on April the 24th and May the 1st. During his interview for a local TV channel he expressed his respect and regard to the Cypriot family for their 'decision to build a temple in honor of Russian saint." Matrona of Moscow is the Saint of Russian Orthodox Church. She was born with a congenital blindness in 1881 in the village of Sebino, Russia. According to sources, at the age of eight years Matrona already had strong faith, the ability to heal the sick and to predict the future. At the age of 18, she had lost the use of her legs. She died at the place of Shodna on May the 2nd in 1952. Her grave for many years had become a place of pilgrimage. During her life Matrona never complained, on the contrary, she praised the name of God and saw a God's plan in her illnesses. She showed great humility, pure love and faith, continuing to help people even after her death. |