First woman priest ordained in Cyprus and the Gulf diocese

From ENS-

The Rev. Catherine Dawkins made history in early June when she became the first woman to be ordained a priest in the Episcopal Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East during a service at St. Christopher's Cathedral in Manama, Bahrain.

Dawkins, 34, will serve in the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf, which in February this year was granted permission, by the vote of a provincial synod, to ordain and appoint women priests. The decision does not affect the other three dioceses in the province: Egypt, Iran and Jerusalem.

"It is wonderful that women are now able to be ordained in this diocese, and it was an immense privilege to be the first woman to be ordained here," Dawkins told ENS. "I feel hugely privileged that I ... can now embark on this new phase of my ministry."

Dawkins, a British citizen, has now moved to Dubai with her husband, the Rev. Nigel Dawkins, who will begin a new role on July 1 as senior port chaplain with Mission to Seafarers in Dubai.

More here-

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_128643_ENG_HTM.htm

Cyprus and the Gulf Synod agree women's ordination

From ACNS-

The Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf will now be able to ordain women as priests and appoint them to single charge chaplaincies. The announcement was made at the annual Synod of the Diocese last week, and was warmly welcomed by members.

The bishop, Rt Rev Michael Lewis, reported that his request to have permission to ordain and appoint women had been granted by the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East. The other dioceses of the Province: Egypt, Iran and Jerusalem will not be affected by the change.

The first ordination of a woman priest is likely to take place in June, when the Rev Catherine Dawkins, currently serving as a deacon and assistant in the Yemen chaplaincy, will be ordained in Bahrain cathedral. The diocese has one female ordinand in training.

Bishop Lewis said, “this is something that Synod has wanted to see for some time, and I am delighted to have this new opportunity. The diocese is currently advertising for a Chaplain for South East Cyprus, and it will be good to be able to invite applications from a full range of candidates.”

The diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf covers ten political jurisdictions, and operates at the interface between Anglican and Orthodox on the one hand, and between Christian and Muslim on the other. Synod congratulated Rev Andy Thompson recently moved from Kuwait to Abu Dhabi, on being awarded the MBE for his services to the communities in which he had worked, and for furthering inter-faith relations.

More here-

http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/digest/index.cfm/2011/2/17/Cyprus-and-the-Gulf-Synod-agree-womens-ordination

An Orthodox home for Anglican worshippers

From Cyprus-

ANGLICAN parishioners’ dreams of using a local church have finally come true after nearly a decade of worshipping at a converted shop in Ayia Napa.

In a remarkable gesture of good-will by the Orthadox Church, the Bishop of Constantia and Famagusta has granted the full use of a tiny chapel in Dherinya to the Anglican Church until they have the funds and backing to build their own premises.

A colourful ceremony to mark the occasion was attended by parishioners and representatives from the Orthodox Church last week.

The tiny whitewashed church of Ayios Helena and Constantine has a capacity of just 50 and will be used for Bible readings, services, weddings and other events.

“It is a beautiful little church and we are very thankful that we have been granted use of it. Considerable amounts of money have been spent by the Church authorities in renovation of the building and surrounding land to a very high standard,” said Reverend Michael Crawford.
After losing the use of a small chapel in Ayia Napa five years ago, the Anglicans have been borrowing the Scandinavian Church on Nissi Avenue for Sunday worship, but their ultimate goal remains a church of their own.

More here-

http://www.cyprus-mail.com/features/orthodox-home-anglican-worshippers/20100530

Much ado about alleged desecration

From Cyprus-

THE ANGLICAN Diocese of Cyprus, and the Gulf and the European Commission yesterday denied separate allegations made against them by the Kykkos Monastery regarding desecrations in the north.

On Tuesday Greek Open University professor Charalambous C. Chotzakoglou from the Museum of the Kykkos Monastery claimed the Anglican Church exhumed Greek Orthodox graves in the Kyrenia cemetery to bury British residents who no longer fit in the adjacent British cemetery.
He also said the EU was funding a road construction project that damaged an Orthodox church in occupied Nicosia.

Anglican Diocese of Cyprus Bishop Michael Lewis reacted swiftly: “I can assure concerned Cypriots and others that at no time, past or present, has there been any act of the Anglican Church in Cyprus that has affected the graves or bodies of faithful departed Orthodox in Kyrenia or anywhere else, by moving existing graves to bury British residents,” he said in a written statement.

“As Anglican Bishop of the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf, I am absolutely committed to promoting respect for the remains and memorials of the dead. They are of utmost sanctity.”
The Municipality of Kyrenia also reacted to the claims, releasing a statement “condemning the unholy act of the Anglican Community of Kyrenia, which not only runs counter to every principle of law and morality, but also aims to erase any indication of Greek presence in the occupied areas.”

More here-

http://www.cyprus-mail.com/cyprus/much-ado-about-alleged-desecration/20100327