In Cyprus with the Pope

On Thursday, 02.12, a group of nine people from our communities together with Father Apollinary flew to Cyprus in order to attend the Mass with Pope Francis. 

We started the experience a few weeks earlier when the group was supposed to be 30 people but due to the new coronavirus restrictions in Israel fewer and fewer people stayed in the group. 

The highlight was when on Wednesday we received a message that foreign passport owners could not enter the country without the approval of an exceptions committee - which meant that the organizer of the group Father Apollinary was not sure to fly with us. But despite all the obstacles and restrictions we ended up not cancelling and flying! 

We landed in Cyprus on Thursday evening and arrived at the hotel where we stayed in over the weekend, in the city of Nicosia. 

After resting a bit from the flight and organizing in the rooms we went looking for a place to eat - this was also an experience in itself and after a good time of searching and zero open restaurants we found the only place always open - McDonald's!!! And that's how we ended the day! 

The next day we woke up early and at 7:00 A.M., we set off for the place where Mass was held with the Pope. 

As we always do, we have come equipped with flags - one of the Latin Patriarchate and one of Israel. 

Next to us was a group of Filipino women who were very enthusiastic about the fact that we were from Israel and asked to take pictures - after an endless number of selfies we also gave them one small flag of Israel - for them it was the perfect gift and they thanked us! 

The journalists also came from Spanish television and asked to interview us - they were very surprised to find a group of Hebrew-speaking Christians from Israel who came to Mass with the Pope. 

We were interviewed and photographed with the flag. 

The Mass was very exciting. For all of us it was an important experience and the fact that we were able to be a part of it was not obvious. 

The feeling that was in the air and the atmosphere was special - there was no rush because there were not many people (a few thousand and not millions...) nor was it very hot and we could really be part of the shared prayer- the feeling was special for all of us. 

At the end of the Mass when we started dating, we were met by other reporters who saw us with the Israeli flag and interviewed us again.

After the special experience at Mass we went on a walk in the city of Nicosia - some shopping and food. We ate at a local restaurant with excellent food! 

We then returned to the hotel extremely tired, but satisfied and excited! In the evening we sat together for coffee in the hotel lobby and shared experiences and jokes together. 

The next day on a Saturday we went to Paphos where we visited holy places and even held a Mass in a small church - for the first time in history in that place in Hebrew! 

We then took a bit of a walk through the harbor, and after some beautiful photos we went on to Larnaca for a city tour, free time and food. 

In the evening we arrived at the airport to start our return home to Israel - because of course a group returning to Israel with EL AL after Mass with the Pope is definitely an experience in itself! 

After interviews and debriefing - we did it and passed! 

At 9:10 P.M., we landed in Israel and after the covid-19 inspections and tests, we finished together with a prayer and thanksgiving for the flight and the shared experience together and we went for our way back home! 

This trip showed us that with faith anything is possible! God was with us all the time - from the fact that we flew despite all the restrictions to the fact that Father Apollinary was able to get back in with us. All the obstacles that were on the way did not prevent us from flying and we were able to be together on the shared farm and be part of something so great and spiritual!!! 

We underlined the fact of being part of the Latin Patriarchate (Archdiocese of Jerusalem) and of the Universal Church. We had the possibility to listen to the words of our Pope and to pray with him and our brothers from Cyprus that is also a part of Latin Patriarchate.