Archaeologists and restoration experts have completed the first phase of the restoration of the Church of Apostolos Andreas in the Karpasia peninsula in the north of Cyprus.
Last Monday the church was handed over to the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage after having started this initial phase of restoration back in 2014.
The two agreements signed by United Nations Development Program: Partnership for the Future (UNDP-PFF) and Church of Cyprus and the Evkaf administration, who are in charge of overseeing Turkish-Cypriot properties, is worth €2.5 million each. Also USAID donated €25,000 towards the restoration project.
Father Zacharias Georgia is the church’s priest who has been its keeper since 1974 when the northern third of Cyprus was invaded and occupied by Turkish Military troops and 2014 he handed over the keys of the church to the technical committee in order to begin the historical and symbolic project which was completed by two construction companies, one Greek Cypriot, the other Turkish Cypriot.
The first phase restored full structural and architectural elements to the church as well as upgrading and modernizing electrical and mechanical installations in the 19th century church.
“What shines and radiates now in Apostolos Andreas is the glory of cooperation between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots,” said Takis Hadjidemetriou, the co-chair of the technical committee. He added that this project is symbolic and tells a message to the world that “in Cyprus we can all coexist with mutual respect and peace.”
He also noted that Apostolos Andreas was a “beacon leading Cyprus to the future.”
The Turkish-Cypriot co-chair of the committee, Ali Tuncai also commented on the joint efforts of the Turkish and Greek-Cypriot sides coming together for the project: “Our cultural heritage and cultural differences must not cause conflict but be our wealth that contributes to both communities living in peace, with prosperity and cooperation.”
Phase two is set to begin in 2017 and will last one year as crews work to restore the chapel and the fountain.
Phase three will follow and will involve the restoration of the building just north of the church, leading to the final phase and completion of external works below the main road and landscaping.
Here are some photos presented by CNA:
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