Church service held after 41 years

The Church of Panagia Galakdrofousas at Palekythro in the north of the island reopened for worshippers for the first time in 41 years on Sunday.

According to the Office of the Religious Track of the Cyprus Peace process which is under the auspices of the Embassy of Sweden, Bishop Porfyrios of Neapolis celebrated an emotional liturgy for the feast of Dormition of the Theotokos (Assumption of the Virgin Mary) with approximately 400 faithful originally from the village of Palekythro attending

Requests for the reopening of the Church have been done in the past but they were all rejected. This year, Mufti of Cyprus Dr Talip Atalay, personally intervened, although he was not responsible to take any decision, for the reopening of the church.

According to Salpy Eskidjian, Executive Coordinator of the Office of the Religious Track of the Cyprus Peace Process, the intervention of Atalay was a result of the Dialogue for Peace of the Religious Leaders of Cyprus.

The five religious leaders of Cyprus have come together to cooperate at ensuring respect and improving freedom of religion as part of human Rights and also exploring ways where they can offer constructive contributions to the Cyprus peace process. According to Eskidjian, “they are building trust and confidence between themselves.”

One of their domains is the right of freedom of access and worship, under which the reopening of the Church of Panagia Galakdrofousas at Palekythro comes.

During the liturgy, Imam Fuat Tosun, regional mufti of Kerynia, represented Atalay.

Bishop Porfyrios mentioned the appreciation of Archbishop Chrysostomos II to the Mufti for his personal intervention and support for the reopening of the church after the rejections of previous years.

Tosun also brought greetings of peace from the Mufti of Cyprus. “God will help both Christians and Muslims to work together to achieve peace in Cyprus and we should continue our joint efforts in this regard” he mentioned.

 

 

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