Makarios statue to be moved in August

THE ENORMOUS statue of Archbishop Makarios currently standing at the grounds of the Archbishopric in Nicosia will be moved in August, the island’s top cleric said yesterday.

Work to replace the 10-metre statue that has stood in the heart of the capital for the past 15 years has already started.

A new marble life-size statue of the late president that will replace ‘Big Mac’ has already arrived at the Archbishopric.

The old statue will be placed in an open space on the mountains near Kykkos monastery.

“We will take it up there after August 15,” Archishop Chrysostomos said. “We are not in a hurry but it cannot stay here,” he added.

The Archbishop pointed out that the media should stay away during the transfer of the enormous statue that has since become somewhat of a tourist attraction.

“I am telling you before hand that it is not right for reporters and cameras to be here recording the winch lifting the statue of Makarios,” Chrysostomos said.

“I do not wish to see a reporter or a camera here; I demand respect to the Archbishop’s memory,” the outspoken cleric said.

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