A 1960S-BUILT structure within the grounds of the Archbishop’s Palace in Nicosia was demolished yesterday, to facilitate the archaeological dig being carried out on the site of the Church’s planned cathedral.
Nicosia Municipality Phedonas Nicolaou told the Cyprus Mail that the Antiquities Department had requested permission from the Archbishopric and Municipality to demolish the structure “in order to facilitate the archaeological dig”, which is located to the west and south of the Palace itself, bordering Patriarch Gregorios Street.
“When the Antiquities Department ask for something, the Municipality says ‘yes’,” Nicolaou said, adding: “You only need to think of the six years they have been digging on the site of the proposed new town hall.”
The dig is taking place as part of the normal process followed when Nicosia Municipality is considering an application for planning permission in the old town, within Nicosia’s 16th century Venetian walls, which the state has declared an ancient monument.
The Church filed an application in February for permission to build a Byzantine-design cathedral close to the Archbishop’s Palace. The initial design proposed a height of 26 metres for the structure, but this was later scaled down to 22.3 metres. When completed, the cathedral will feature a dome 14m in diameter. The plans for the area, which came under fire from the Cyprus Architects Association, include the Archbishop’s Palace and also call for underground parking for 150 cars, a gallery and the conversion of two existing churches into museums.
According to a member of the Antiquities Department site-team, who preferred to remain anonymous, the dig is due to be completed by the end of July, when a report will be submitted to the Municipality. The archaeologist said that a second dig is planned “after the summer”, centred on the park area between the current site and the Palace itself.
Meanwhile, the Forestry Department has already inspected the area and has submitted its own Environmental Impact report to the Municipality, addressing which of the existing trees could be removed or transplanted, and which must remain in place.
Regarding yesterday’s demolition, the archaeologist – who had inspected the structure – said that “it was 1960s-built, of no architectural value”, adding that “it was uninhabitable and would need to have been demolished anyway”.
Two other structures, which were both jerry-built within the Palace grounds and close to the current dig are also reported to be due for demolition in the near future.
When contacted to confirm the reasons for yesterday’s demolition, the Archbishop’s spokesman said that for the time being he had “no inclination to say anything, either personally or on behalf of the Archbishop”.
