President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides was decorated, on Thursday, by the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III, at the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, during his working visit to Israel. An announcement from the Presidency says that in a special ceremony that took place at the Patriarchate, the President of the Republic was decorated by Patriarch Theophilos with the Grand Cross of the Order of Knights, which is the highest honor given by the Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Accepting the honorary distinction, the President said that the Cypriot people are being honored in his person. He also praised the work carried out by the Patriarchate in difficult circumstances. He also referred to the close relations of Cyprus with the Patriarchate and assured of the active support of Cyprus. President of Cyprus and the Patriarch walked to the Church of the Resurrection where he paid his respects at the Holy Sepulchre, and a short prayer was said. Priests from the Patriarchate accompanied the President of the Republic and the Patriarch of Jerusalem all the way from the Patriarchate to the Church of the Resurrection. Church bells rang joyfully for the arrival of the President of the Republic.
Source: Cyprus News Agency