On Sunday 14th June 2015, the Greek Orthodox Community of St Barnabas in Wood Green commemorated the founder of the Cyprus church St Barnabas, and at the same time celebrated the annual event of Cyprus Day.
Many dignitaries local and far afield attended this extremely important event in the Greek Orthodox Calendar and at the same time honoured in style Cyprus Day.
The church was decorated with Cypriot and Greek Flags, in the presence of representatives from the Cyprus High Commission and the Greek Embassy, former MP Andy Love, a true friend of Cyprus, the worshipful Mayor of Haringey and her escort, representatives of political parties from AKEL, DISY and EDEK, other Greek Orthodox communities and many guests including one well known councillor and a former well known councillor.
The church service was conducted by his Eminence Archbishop Gregorios of Thyateira and Great Britain and Bishop Tropaiou Athanasios and clergy consisting of priests and deacons.
Archbishop Gregorios welcomed all the guests and the surrounding congregation and called upon Mrs Papalouca, Educational Attaché at the Cyprus High Commission, to deliver the main speech.
Mrs Papalouca spoke about the life of St Barnabas and a brief journey on the Cyprus history and ended by wishing that a just and long lasting peaceful solution is found soon on the Cyprus issue.
After the church service, a reception was held in the hall of St Barnabas with a surprise visit from Catherine West MP who arrived on a bicycle.
Andreas Constantinides, the chair of the community, invited Katherine West to say a few words and mentioned the work, in her short spell as an MP; she has already carried out on the Cyprus issue and the campaign to reinstate the Modern Greek A’ levels.
By the time this article goes to print, she would have already submitted an early day motion on Cyprus.
The fact she insisted to be photographed in front of our national flag speaks volumes for the kind of person she is and as many people present said, they’d never heard a newly elected MP speak so eloquently and so passionately on the Cyprus problem which suggests that this Labour MP is a genuine friend of Cyprus without any shadow of the doubt. Her honesty, her simplicity and the fact that she mentioned Andy Love as her mentor on the Cyprus issue, revealed that both are passionately friends of Cyprus.
She expressed her wish to work with cross party MPs and friends of Cyprus.
Katherine West has done so much work behind the scenes without big and meaningless headlines but honest work as this is not to be turned into a monopoly by anyone on the Cyprus issue. Some politicians are just content to issue a press release then they sit and are of the opinion their work is done, but not Catherine West.
Parikiaki and I for one wish the community of St Barnabas every success and congratulates Archbishop Gregorios for his warm welcome to the guests from the local authority and how well he had explained the issue about Cyprus Bishop Tropaiou Athanasios who is working tirelessly for the good of the community and indeed the newly elected Chair Andreas Constantinides and the church committee and all who are working alongside the aforementioned. We wish them all every success and carry on the good work – Cyprus needs you.
The fete of St Barnabas as always has given the opportunity to promote the Cyprus issue among the English guests and the messages will be carried forward by the mayor and MP.
The absence of Tory MPS has raised some eyebrows as not long ago they were telling us how much they care about Cyprus. Food for thought! I prefer to see quality work done by MPs than meaningless press releases.
Councillor George Savva