Cyprus seeks divine intervention to end drought
Mon Nov 26, 2007
NICOSIA (Reuters) - Cyprus's ancient Orthodox Church called on Monday for
prayers to end a crippling drought threatening to sap reservoirs dry of
water by the end of the year.
Cyprus, which is heavily reliant on rainfall for water supplies, is
suffering one of the worst droughts of the past 100 years. The
Mediterranean
island's reservoirs are only 8.1 percent full, according to the most
recent
data.
Authorities say Cyprus's largest dam will run dry in the next 30 days, and
they will soon start emergency drilling to tap underground water deposits.
Prayers for rain are rare, and the last occurred in 1998, when there was a
comparably critical water shortage.
"We are sure that if we all pray with deep faith the Almighty will heed
our
prayers; 'Ask and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full'," Church
leader Archbishop Chrysostomos said in a circular on Monday, quoting from
the Gospel of John.
The liturgy will be held on December 2 in churches across Cyprus.
Cyprus's church is an independent branch of the eastern Orthodox communion
and traces its lineage back to some of Jesus Christ's earliest followers.
(Re****ting by Michele Kambas; Editing by Sarah Marsh)
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