A chest with the Holy Belt of the Virgin Mary has arrived in Cyprus

The Holy Belt of the Virgin Mary has arrived in Cyprus. On the morning of February 5, the chest containing the relic was delivered to Larnaca's old airport by private plane.

The Christian relic was brought to Cyprus by the abbot of the Athonite Vatopedi Monastery, Elder Ephraim. At the airport, the delegation was greeted by representatives of the Cypriot Orthodox Church, the Minister of Justice and Public Order, as well as the Mayor of Paralimni, a unit of military police, and representatives of the fire service. After the arrival of the chest, a prayer service was held in the airport's VIP lounge.

The revered relic will stay on the island for a month, until March 4, and can be venerated in eight churches and monasteries in Cyprus.

Schedule of the Virgin Mary's Belt in Cyprus: February 5-11 – Cathedral of St. George the Victorious, Paralimni February 11-18 – Cathedral of Panagia Pantanassa (Catholic), Limassol February 18-21 – Church of the Holy Unmercenaries (Ayia Anargyri), Kato Paphos February 21-23 – Church of Panagia Evangelistria, Dali (near Nicosia) February 23-28 – Church of St. Andrew the Apostle, Episkopi From February 28 to March 1 – Church of St. Phoebe, Agia Anna II Settlement, Larnaca March 1-2 – Mesa Potamos Monastery March 2-4 – Machairas Monastery

The Holy Belt of the Virgin Mary is a Christian relic believed to have belonged to the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ.

The initiative to bring the Virgin Mary's Belt to Cyprus was taken by Metropolitan Vasilios of Constantia and Ammochostos. He approached Elder Ephraim, the abbot of the Athonite Vatopedi Monastery, with a request to bring the relic to Cyprus, and received his blessing. The Belt was last in Cyprus 35 years ago.

The Vatopedi Monastery, or Vatopedi, is a Greek Orthodox male monastery on Mount Athos in Greece, the second in the hierarchy of Athonite monasteries, and one of the oldest and wealthiest.