Newsroom
As Cyprus marks Independence Day on Thursday, people looking for a quieter and more spiritual stop during the holiday can visit a rare Christian relic now being hosted in Aglantzia.
The Holy Hand of Saint Mary Magdalene has been brought to Cyprus for the first time and will remain at the Church of Apostolos Andreas in Platy Aglantzias until Sunday, Oct. 4.
The church will be open daily from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m., giving worshippers and other visitors plenty of time to attend outside the busiest holiday hours.
The relic arrived from Simonos Petra Monastery on Mount Athos, where it is normally kept. It was accompanied to Cyprus by monk-priest Father Gervasios and other members of the monastic community.
Metropolitan Gregorios of Paphos received the relic on Monday, Sept. 28, during a formal ceremony attended by a philharmonic orchestra, honor guards, and a large crowd of worshippers.
For the faithful, the visit carries particular meaning.
Mary Magdalene was one of Jesus Christ’s closest and most devoted followers. In Christian tradition, she is remembered as one of the Myrrh-bearing women and among the first witnesses of the Resurrection. She later carried the news to the Apostles, earning her an important place in the story of Easter.
Relics hold a special place in Orthodox worship, not as museum pieces, but as physical connections to the saints and the lives they represent. Visitors traditionally approach them in prayer, seeking comfort, strength, or healing.
The arrival of the Holy Hand has already drawn crowds to the Aglantzia parish, with photographs and videos showing worshippers gathered inside and outside the church for its reception.
Whether visiting as a pilgrim or simply wishing to witness a rare moment in the island’s religious life, the practical details are straightforward: the relic will remain at Apostolos Andreas Church in Platy Aglantzias through Oct. 4, with the church welcoming visitors between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. each day.
