Our Lady of Grace Cathedral, Maronite cathedral in Nicosia, Cyprus.
Our Lady of Grace Cathedral is a Maronite place of worship located in Nicosia's old town, where the structure blends Eastern and Western architectural styles. The building stands within the historic city walls near Paphos Gate on St. Maron Street.
The first Maronite cathedral of Nicosia was dedicated to St. John, but under Ottoman rule it became a mosque. The Lebanese Maronite community then built the church of Santa Croce, later entrusted to the Franciscans, and the present church of Our Lady of Grace stands near the Franciscan church. The vicarage seat and surrounding buildings were erected only in 1960.
The Maronite community of Nicosia worships here in the Antiochene rite, and the church is the seat of the Maronite Catholic Archeparchy of Cyprus. The name recalls the earlier church of Santa Croce, which the Lebanese Maronites built and later entrusted to the Franciscans; the present church stands near the Franciscan church.
The building is located on St. Maron Street near Paphos Gate and is easily reached on foot from the old town center. Regular services follow the Maronite rite, so visitors should check timing in advance of a visit.
On 6 June 2010 Pope Benedict XVI visited the cathedral, the first pope to make an apostolic trip to Cyprus. The first Maronite cathedral of Nicosia had been dedicated to St. John before the Ottoman occupation turned it into a mosque.
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