By Emilia Christofi
Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots on Thursday joined forces to protect and preserve the Monastery of St Panteleimonas in the north of the island, which was vandalised only two years after it was restored.
Α community clean-up event was organised at the monastery, in Myrtou, where representatives from the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage, the European Commission and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) participated in the “Caring for our Cultural Heritage”.
In November Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi reported that vandals broke the entrance doors and window panes, damaged the fencing, and painted non-political graffiti on the walls.
UNDP Cyprus Programme Manager, Tiziana Zennaro told volunteers and participants that the monastery was proudly conserved in 2016 mainly with the support of the European Union. It is not only important as a place for worship but also as a social and economic hub and as such is an inspiring example of Cyprus’s cultural heritage.
“As you know there have been some challenges with the maintenance and despite all effort, there is still a lot to be done,” she said.
“We are fully aware that the real work of protecting and preserving cultural heritage starts after the work has been completed. And our message is: ‘it is time for all of us to work together, to raise awareness for protecting and preserving cultural heritage as a shared responsibility’ and this is why we are all here today.”
Ambra di Nuzzo, Programme Manager at the European Commission reminded that bicommunal teams took part in all phases of the conservation work while hundreds of Cypriots from both communities visited the site.
“Now the site is trying once again to pass a message. We all share the responsibility for conserving our cultural heritage in our environment. The EC can spend more millions of euros, the UNDP can support for many years the work of the Technical Committee but ultimately it is up to the whole community, to keep our cultural heritage beautiful as it is”.
The Turkish Cypriot head of the Technical Committee, Ali Tuncay, said the committee was aware that the responsibility is tremendous and its effort aim at saving monuments throughout the island. “We will not leave this monument alone… we will not let this monument be part of the blame game or to be used for political purposes,” he said.
“Ayios Panteleimonas Monastery is our common heritage. and we are dedicated to protect and maintain it.”
He thanked the villagers, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots who came to help clean up the monastery and who pledged to protect it.
Speaking on behalf of the Greek Cypriot representative, Glafcos Constantinides praised the significance of Ayios Panteleimonas “as it is valued by all Cypriots and beyond”.
“It is now time for Cypriots, all those who share this appreciation for this monument and make sure it is protected and respected”, he added.
Since 2012 approximately €14.7m was provided by the European Union to implement the priorities of the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage for the preservation of the island-‐wide cultural heritage in Cyprus. Projects are implemented by the United Nations Development Programme.
At the beginning of the 20th century, ten monks lived in the monastery, the last one being Sofronios Michailides, who died in Myrtou on July 27, 1976, the day Saint Panteleimon is celebrated.
