The monastery of Saint Panteleimon in the village Myrtou of Cyprus is in terrible condition. It was converted into a Turkish military camp after the Turkish invasion in 1974. A little after the opening of the Green Line in 2003, the monastery was abandoned because it was dangerous for the occupation army.
The monastery’s interior is in the worst condition, as there is barbed wire on the windows, the main entrance is closed, but the south entrance is wide open letting animals in. Propping projects, which have begun about two years ago in the context of the program of the Joint Committee for preserving cultural heritage monuments, have stopped.
Until 1974, Myrtou Saint Panteleimon Monastery was among the most important Christian pilgrimages in Cyprus, contrary to its current condition. At the beginning of the 20th century, the monastery hosted ten monks, the last of whom was Sophronios Michaelides, who died trapped in Myrtou on 27 July 1976.
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