HUNDREDS OF Greek and Turkish Cypriots will be heading for Famagusta to celebrate the Kataklysmos, the Festival of the Flood tomorrow for the second time since checkpoints were opened in 2003.
Non-governmentnal organisations on both sides have announced that this year’s celebrations will take place at Constantia beach, what is now known as the Palm Beach just outside the fenced-off area of the ghost town of Varosha on Sunday at 6.30pm.
Celebrations will include bi-communal cultural programme and traditional fiesta on the beach.
The monastery of Apostolos Varnavas will be open from 6pm for those who wish to attend services beforehand, an announcement said.
Last year was the firs time in 30 years that Kataklysmos was celebrated in Famagusta. The news was greeted by outrage on the Greek Cypriot side where they were called traitors.
Last year’s event, attended by around 4,000 people both Greek and Turkish Cypriots, was organised by the Movement for the Reunification of Cyprus, Socialists for the Solution, Platform for Unification and Solution Now, the New Cyprus Association, the Famagusta Refugee Movement and the Force of the United Cyprus among others, Supporting the event was the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce and the Turkish Cypriot Businessmen’s Association and local Turkish Cypriot organisations from the Famagusta area.
The word kataklysmos, meaning flood, is found both in the book of Genesis and in the Greek myth of Deukalion. In both, it refers to the destruction of life on Earth, apart (of course) from the faithful and men of God. In Genesis, Noah and his family and the animals were saved in the Ark, and in the Greek myth, Deukalion and his wife were saved to give birth to a new and moral generation.
Kataklysmos in Famagusta. June 26. Costantia beach. From 6.30pm onwards.
Buses: (£3/£2 p/p)
Meeting points
Nicosia: 3.30pm at Handicraft Centre. Tel: 99-646360/22-374027
Larnaca: 3.30pm at Ant. Papadopoulos Stadium. Tel: 99-403969
Limassol: 2.30pm at Vasiliades Supermarket. Tel: 99 511284
Limassol: 2.30pm at Polemidhia. Tel: 99-527992/25-395004
Τhe Church of St. Barnabas near Ancient Salamis will be also open as a result of special arrangements until 6pm on Sunday for visiting and bestowing respects to the saint
Kataklysmos
Traditional music and dances, competitions, and fun. June 17-22. Larnaca Seafront Stage, Larnaca. 8pm. Tel: 24-657745
June 18-20. Ancient Castle Square, Kato Paphos. 8pm. Tel: 26-943618
Song competitions and traditional dances and songs. June 18-20. Ayia Napa central Square, Famagusta Dristrict. 7pm. Tel: 23-816307
All events are free
