Following his consecration last month in Bahrain, Bishop Sean was enthroned at St Paul’s cathedral in Nicosia on June 22nd.
A packed cathedral congregation included representatives from the Cyprus parishes, together with distinguished ecumenical representatives and the Vice Grand Mufti of Cyprus, Imam Shakir Alemdar. A lesson was read by the Deputy British High Commissioner.
The Enthronement service is traditionally the first opportunity for a bishop to address his Diocese. In his charge Bishop Sean called on the image of the tent to describe his vision. This was both a culturally appropriate and Biblically rich picture of welcome and community. Bishop Sean spoke of the wonderful and unique variety of the Diocese and its potential to be a gift to the whole Anglican Communion.
Speaking of barriers to mission and growth he identified the tendency for churchgoers to imagine that God was thinking what they were thinking; and the gap sometimes observed between what Christians profess and how they act.
The sense of celebration was palpable and was enjoyed not only by those present but also by a sizeable audience following the service as it was live streamed on YouTube.