CYPRUS - On Resurrection Sunday, March 31st, 2024, Mgr. Bruno Varriano, Patriarchal Vicar of Cyprus, presided over his first Mass after his Ordination as a Bishop. with the faithful of northern part of Cyprus (Kerynea, Famagusta, northen Nicosia and Lefke).
In his homily, Mgr. Varriano expressed his great joy to be with the communities in northern part of Cyprus, saying: “Today I am here, to tell you that I care about you, that I love you all…. And desire for us to walk together...For you I am a Bishop”. He went on to explain his new responsibilities as a Bishop of the Latin Catholic community in Cyprus: “As a bishop I am responsible for your salvation… yes, the salvation of my flock. And the symbols that the bishop carries, speak precisely of this. The Cross... because I must love the Church, my flock, and lay down my life for you, my people, even unto death. The Crosier (the shepherd’s staff) has a curved hook, because the shepherd must take the sheep by the neck to rescue it when it is in danger, so as not to lose any sheep. Then the color reminds us of the blood... loving to the point of giving our own blood”. He ended by asking the community to continuously lift him up in their prayers, as he earnestly works to remain faithful to these acts, by the grace and power of the Holy Spirit.
“The beauty for us Christians is to combine the physical with the spiritual,” he said, while commenting on the Gospel reading of the Lord’s resurrection, as he made a parallel between the “physical” journey made to the Empty Tomb with the spiritual journey in one’s own life. He explained, saying: “Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb early in the morning...This is not only a chronological but a theological indication. It was physically dark and there was darkness in her heart too. She still felt pain, misunderstanding, and failure. How many times we too are "in the dark", in moments of suffering, difficulty, illness. And that darkness grows so much that we begin to live without meaning and without hope. What's beautiful is that Mary doesn't stand still. But she goes to the tomb, she goes to look for Jesus there, to look for His body. But Jesus is not there. He is not among the dead. Mary sees a sign of life (the open tomb), but she reads it negatively; she is still "in the dark" and she thinks someone stole Jesus' body. It was the "most plausible" human explanation. It was difficult to understand a mystery like the “resurrection”; yes, brothers and sisters we need Him… we need the Lord Jesus” and His Word. And only in this way will we be able to read signs of life, even where there seems to be only death. It is faith in Jesus that helps us read reality with more profound eyes, with the eyes of faith. And it is love for Jesus that makes us "run faster" and live in even the hardest situations united with Him”.
Mgr. Varriano reminded the small Christian community in northern part of Cyprus of the power of their actions, because “Jesus is at the center”, and “He is the Word. the Protagonist”. He also requested of them to continue putting Jesus at the center of their life and live according to his Word.
Finally, he thanked all those present for their attendance, and expressed great pleasure to be serving the Church of Cyprus.
