Religious leaders in Cyprus have issued a joint call for the restoration of two churches located in the “buffer zone” between the island’s Greek and Turkish zones.
In a statement, the five Christian and Islamic leaders called for work on the Church of St James after heavy rain in recent weeks reportedly caused the collapse of the 15th century church’s bell tower and part of its wall.
The religious leaders said they were renewing a joint plea, first issued in 2014, regarding the “urgent need to appropriately reinforce and restore” not only St James but also the nearby 17th century Church of St George, both of which are found in UN-controlled buffer zone.
“The significance of a place of worship reaches far beyond the stones it is built of and its destruction disrespects our shared religious and cultural heritage,” they said.
“As leaders of the five main religious communities of Cyprus, we stand together as brothers committed to ensure that all sacred places for our faithful, all places of worship that are part of Cyprus religious and cultural heritage are respected as such, cared for, protected and restored…”
The leaders expressed hope that an upcoming meeting of Greek and Turkish leaders later this month will “provide an opportunity for them to discuss and resolve all obstacles to reinforce and restore both these historic monuments”.
“Expressing our hope for a constructive and proactive way forward in protecting the historic monuments in the Buffer Zone, we pray to be spared from witnessing another place of worship in Cyprus fall to ruins.”
