Cyprus Church Synod permits weddings during Nativity Fast

The Gospel and crowns for wedding ceremony. Photo: alphanews.live

On January 14, 2026, the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus convened for an extraordinary session under the chairmanship of Archbishop Georgios of Cyprus and adopted a number of decisions, reports the official website of the Church of Cyprus.

The press release states that the Synod of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus decided to allow the celebration of the Sacrament of Marriage "starting from next year and thereafter" from the beginning of the Nativity Fast until December 12. It should be noted that the Cyprus Church celebrates the Nativity of Christ on December 25.

On this topic Church weddings in Greece drop by more than half over 30 years

In addition, Archbishop Georgios's initiative was approved to add to the three stanzas of the Good Friday Encomiums, hymns of supplication "connected to the chronic Cypriot problem".

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Metropolitan Tychikos case will again be considered by the Cyprus Church Synod.

Read also

Lavra reserve head estimates damage to Dormition Cathedral at €15 million

Maksym Ostapenko said restoring the Dormition Cathedral would take at least a couple of years and require major funding.

DESS official says state should not govern the Church

A DESS official called for cooperation between the state and the Church for the benefit of citizens.

Poltava court upholds mobilization of Protestant pastor

A court in the Poltava region ruled that a prior criminal conviction and religious beliefs do not exempt a person from military service.

Ostapenko: Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra would not exist without Soviet-era reserve

The reserve director spoke about the Soviet museum’s role in saving the monastery, while stressing the need to rethink its history.

Metropolitan Anthony criticizes DESS order on Boryspil Eparchy

The UOC chancellor rejected officials’ findings, pointing to procedural violations in the DESS review.

Two more parishes in Sloviansk reregistered under OCU

The organizer behind the transfer of UOC communities in Sloviansk said the reregistration of churches would continue.