CHRISTIAN MONUMENTS OF CYPRUS Under Turkish Military Occupation “ And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus: which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. Then Saul (who is also called Paul), filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, And said, O full of all subtlety and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord. “ Acts 13:6-12 The Conversion of the Proconsul – Raphael, 1515-16 CONTENTS Monastery of Profitis Elias, Ayia Marina Skilloura. Church of Chrysopolitissa, Kyrenia Town. Map Sections 06 About the Project 07 Section A’ 08 Section B’ 10 Section C’ 12 Section D’ 14 Section E’ 16 Section F’ 18 Section G’ 20 The entrance of the church Agios Andronikos, in Kythrea. Monastery of Agios Panteleimon in Myrtou. CHRISTIAN MONUMENTS OF CYPRUS Under Turkish Military Occupation Map Sections Section D’ Section A’ Section B’ Section C’ M E D I T E R R A N E A N S E A KERYNEIA AKANTHOU LAPITHOS KARAVAS LEFKONIKO KYTHREA MORFOU LEFKOSIA (NICOSIA) AMMOCHOSTOS (FAMAGUSTA) LYSI Section E’ Section F’ Section G’ LARNAKA PAFOS M E D I T E R R A N E A N S E A LEMESOS (LIMASSOL) 06 ABOUT THE PROJECT This particular publication marks the beginning of an effort to portray the present condition of our religious monuments in the occupied part of Cyprus. The Committee of Cyprus Occupied Municipalities, in its effort to cession to the European Union, representing a continent which demonstrate the destruction of the cultural heritage of Cyprus stands for civilization, culture and respect for human rights and by Turkey, and especially the systematic desecration and looting cultural and religious diversity. of our religious monuments, has taken the initiative to produce For purely technical reasons, the map of the occupied part of the present map which seemed as a necessity in the light of the Cyprus is divided into seven sections. Each of these sections is Cyprus presidency of the Council of the European Union. accompanied by an index that enlists the religious monuments Of the nine Cyprus occupied municipalities and 200 communi- that appear on the respective map and describes the situation ties, access is allowed to only 177 of them. For the remaining they are in today. The map can be found in its entirety at the end 23, we barely know anything about and, thus, we assume that of the album. Despite the ambitious effort to enlist all churches, the destruction of our religious monuments is graver than what chapels, monasteries and religious, we understand that omis- was initially estimated. According to credible local and interna- sions might have occurred due to the fact that some areas have tional reports, 559 Christian churches, chapels and monasteries been proclaimed by the occupying authorities as “military areas” have been looted, demolished, destroyed or vandalized. For ex- and access is prohibited. ample, more than 100 churches, chapels and monasteries have This particular publication marks the beginning of an effort to por- been desecrated; thousands of icons have been vanished; many tray the present condition of our religious monuments in the oc- churches have been converted into mosques, others are used by cupied part of Cyprus. We hope that this will serve as an incentive the Turkish army as hospitals or military camps (one of them to all the elected Councils of the occupied communities to provide is used as a morgue), some churches have been converted into further information and contribute to its completion in the effort stables and more than thirty Christian monuments have been to give a more detailed account on the present state and condi- demolished. Moreover, 48 new mosques have been built in the tion of our religious monuments and archaeological sites. occupied areas since 1974. We also hope that the presentation of this sad situation as ap- Turkey undoubtedly bears the sole responsibility for the destruc- pears on the map will increase awareness, sensitivity and con- tion of our cultural heritage and the desecration of our religious cern about the overall behavior of Turkey against this part of monuments in the northern part of Cyprus. This is taking place Europe and the European culture that is being destroyed before at a time when Turkey, as a candidate country, negotiates its ac- our eyes. 07 Section Α’ REFERENCE 1. Chapel Apostolos Pavlos and Varnavas, LIVERA 41. Church Panagia Evangelistria, KARAVAS 69. Church Archangelos Michael, KYRENIA 2. Church Agios Constantinos and Agia Eleni, LIVERA 42. Chapel Panagia Galaterousa, KARAVAS 70. Church Apostolos Andreas, KYRENIA 3. Church Agia Irene, AGIA IRENE 43. Church Agia Irene, KARAVAS 71. Chapel Agia Aikaterini, KYRENIA 4. Chapel Agios Fanourios, AGIA IRENE 44. Monastery Panagia Acheiropoietos, KARAVAS 72. Church Chrysokava, KYRENIA 5. Chapel Panagia, KORMAKITIS 45. Church Agios Evlalios, KARAVAS 73. Church Agios Georgios, KYRENIA 6. Church Agios Georgios, KORMAKITIS 46. Cemetery Apostolos Petros, KARAVAS 74. Church Agios Georgios, KYRENIA 7. Chapel Agios Georgios tou Sporou, KORMAKITIS 47. Church Agios Georgios, KARAVAS 75. Chapel Agios Gregorios KYRENIA 8. Chapel Panagia Galata, LIVERA 48. Chapel Apostolos Andreas, KARAVAS 76. Church Panagia Thermeiotissa, THERMEIA 9. Church Agios Georgios, ORGA 49. Church Agios Nicolaos, ELIA 77. Chapel Agios Andronikos, KAZafaNI 10. Chapel Profitis Elias, DIORIOS 50. Church Agia Paraskevi, PALAIosofos 78. Church Agios Vasilios, KarakoumI 11. Church Agia Marina, DIORIOS 51. Chapel Agios Pavlos, KARAVAS 79. Chapel Agia Mavri, KYRENIA 12. Church Apostolos Andreas, PANAGRA 52. Church Apostolos Petros and Apostolos Pavlos, FTERICHA 80. Chapel Agios Georgios, KAZafaNI 13. Church Agia Marina, DIORIOS 53. Chapel Agios Georgios, FTERICHA 81. Church Archangelos Michael, KAZafaNI Monastery Church Chapel Mosque* 14. Chapel Timios Stavros, KarpasIA 54. Chapel Profitis Elias, KARMI 82. Chapel Agios Fotios, BellapaIS 15. Monastery Agios Panteleimon, MYrtou 55. Church Agios Charalambos, TRIMIthI 83. Chapel Panagia Potamitissa, KAZafaNI Present Condition 16. Church Timios Stavros, KarpasIA 56. Chapel Chrisosotiros, KARMI 84. Chapel Agios Georgios, BellapaIS Desecration / 17. Monastery Agia Marina Pigadouliotissa, VasILEIA 57. Church Panagia Karmiotissa, KARMI 85. Church Panagia Asproforousa, BellapaIS Αlternative Use 18. Church Panagia, KAMPYLI 58. Chapel Agios Fanourios, AGIOS GEORGIOS 86. Chapel Agia Marina, BellapaIS Destruction 19. Church Archangelos Michael, Asomatos 59. Church Panagia Crysotrimithiotissa, TRIMIthI 87. Church Apostolos Pavlos, KAZafaNI 20. Church Agios Constantinos and Agia Eleni, VasILEIA 60. Chapel Ai Stratis (Agios Efstratios), KARMI 88. Chapel Agios Kornesios (Kournoutas), Kato DIkomo Demolition Good Condition 21. Monastery Agia Paraskevi, VasILEIA 61. Church Agios Ilarion, KARMI 89. Chapel Profitis Elias, PANO DIkomo 22. Monastery Panagia ton Katharon, LARNAKAS TIS LAPIthou 62. Chapel Agios Panteleimonas, KARMI 90. Church Profitis Zacharias, PANO DIkomo Military area Converted into Mosque 23. Church Archangelos Michael, KONTEMENOS 63. Church Agios Georgios, AGIOS GEORGIOS 91. Chapel Panagia Pervolion, Kato DIkomo 24. Monastery Panagia Kriniotissa, VasILEIA 64. Church Panagia Glikiotissa, KYRENIA 92. Church Agios Georgios, Kato DIkomo Military Occupation Boundary 25. Chapel Panagia Airgotissa, LAPIthos 65. Church Agia Varvara, KYRENIA 93. Chapel Agios Demetrianos, Kato DIkomo 26. Church Agios Theodoros, LAPIthos 66. Chapel Panagia Faneromeni, Templos 94. Chapel Agios Constantinos, Kato DIkomo District boundary 27. Church Agia Paraskevi, LAPIthos 67. Chapel Agios Demetrios, KYRENIA 95. Chapel Agios Mamas, Kato DIkomo 28. Church Agios Charalambos, AGRIDAKI 68. Church Panagia Chrysopolitissa, KYRENIA 96. Chapel Agia Marina, Kato DIkomo * Built after 1974 29. Church Agios Demetrianos, LARNAKAS TIS LAPIthou 30. Church Apostolos Lucas, LAPIthos 31. Church Timiou Prodromou, LAPIthos 32. Chapel Agia Eudokia, SYSKLIPOS 33. Church Agios Georgios, SYSKLIPOS 34. Church Panagia Chryseleousa, SYSKLIPOS 35. Church Agios Ermolaos, AGIOS ERMOLAOS 36. Church Agios Ermolaos, AGIOS ERMOLAOS 37. Church Agios Minas, LAPIthos 38. Church Agia Anastasia, LAPIthos 39. Chapel Archangelos, LAPIthos 40. Chapel Agios Antonios, KARAVAS 15. Monastery Agios Panteleimon, MYrtou 38. Church of Agia Anastasia, LAPIthos (Converted into Resort) 41. Church of Panagia Evangelistria, KARAVAS (Converted into Mosque) 08 Christian Monuments of Cyprus underΚατεχόμενες Turkish MilitaryΕκκλησίες Occupation της Κύπρου M E D I T E R R A N E A N S E A Cape Kormakitis 1 Livera 2 KARAVAS 8 Orga LAPITHOS 44 25 45 9 48 KERYNEIA 20 5 17 26 58 30 37 40 Kormakitis Vasileia Agios 64 71 46 68 69 Karakoumi 12 41 Georgios 72 31 Motides 63 6 7 21 49 65 73 Panagra 70 78 79 27 38 42 43 47 55 59 24 76 Elia Trimithi Templos 74 80 39 Palaiosofos 53 56 Thermeia Ftericha Karmi 67 50 62 75 81 66 77 83 Larnakas 57 Kazafani 11 13 32 52 61 10 15 28 87 Lapithou 60 85 Diorios 51 84 Myrtou 33 54 Agios 4 Belapais Kampyli 22 Agridaki Ilarion 82 34 Agirda 86 14 18 Sysklipos Kiomourtzou Profitis Elias 3 Agia Eirini Karpaseia 29 16 Pileri Krini 89 88 36 Pano Dikomo 90 Asomatos 35 Agios 91 Kontemenos Ermolaos 93 19 92 95 96 23 Kato Dikomo 94 Fotta 09 Section B’ REFERENCE 97. Chapel Agios Georgios, AGIOS EPIKTItos 140.