Limassol, Cyprus, July 28, 2025
Photo: vimaorthodoxias.gr
The Metropolis of Limassol of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus has mobilized to provide crucial support to victims of the largest wildfire in the region’s modern history, which has claimed two lives, injured more than two dozen people, and burned nearly 30,9000 acres of land.
His Eminence Metropolitan Athanasios of Limassol announced that his diocese has undertaken the daily distribution of 1,000 meals—500 at midday and 500 in the evening—in coordination with Cyprus’ Civil Defense authority, reports Vima Orthodoxias.
The massive fire has left dozens of families homeless and caused extensive damage across the mountainous regions of Limassol Province. The Metropolitan described the scale of destruction, noting that “many houses of our brothers were burned, cars, properties, animals, trees, fields—everything was burned.”
The Orthodox Church itself suffered significant losses, with three churches completely or severely damaged by the flames. The Chapel of St. John the Russian in Vouni and the Chapel of St. Andrew in Souni were destroyed, while the larger Church of Sts. Silouan and Sophronius of Mount Athos in Souni was completely reduced to ashes.
Photo: orthodoxianewsagency.gr
“It burned completely, it became ash, absolutely nothing remained! A mountain of stones,” Metropolitan Athanasios said of the Church of Sts. Silouan and Sophronius, which had been built just five years ago. “That church was five years old when we built it, and it was beautiful, a jewel of the area.”
Archimandrite Philotheos of the Metropolis of Limassol reported that only the external walls of the wooden-roofed churches remained standing, with the iconostases, icons, wall paintings, and sacred vessels all destroyed.
Beyond meal distribution, the Metropolis has opened its multipurpose Good Shepherd center in Episcopi, where 25 fire victims are being housed along with their babies and families in air-conditioned accommodations with meals provided.
The Church’s relief efforts are being conducted in full cooperation with state authorities and Civil Defense, with volunteers and local communities coordinating assistance. The Cypriot Parliament has also called for immediate restoration of affected communities and support for those who lost everything.
Met. Athanasios emphasized the spiritual dimension of the response, calling for prayer and unity during this difficult time. “Let us pray that God may help our brothers who are surrounded by fires and that God may shelter us to avoid such sad things,” he said.
The fire has devastated much of Limassol’s countryside, including wine-growing villages that were previously known for their beautiful rural landscapes. “Half the province and more has burned,” the Metropolitan noted, describing areas that were once scenic countryside as now resembling “a place of skulls,” blackened and devoid of life.
Despite the extensive damage, Met. Athanasios concluded his message with words of faith: “Glory to God for all things! Blessed be the name of the Lord!”
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