Cyprus-Forum.com

[Kypriotiki]

Here's a suggestion for the TRNC tourist board. How about a tour of destroyed/converted to mosques/converted to stables Orthodox churches, monasteries and sketes in northern Cyprus?

http://chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it/de ... 6544&eng=y

[Tim Drayton]

Last year, I saw a tourist brochure in English produced by the "TRNC" authorities aimed at foreign tourists. I was curious to see how so many churches, monasteries, "icon museums" etc were listed as places of interest. This is ironic given the campaign that was conducted in the northern part of the island after the ethnic cleansing which occured in 1974 to obliterate all signs of the pluralism and ethnic harmony which used to exist there, as it did everywhere in Cyprus. Perhaps we should take it as a positive sign, now that the nationalist old guard are no longer at the helm, that the tourist authorities in the north are promoting such monuments as places of interest.

[Kypriotiki]

Last year, I saw a tourist brochure in English produced by the "TRNC" authorities aimed at foreign tourists. I was curious to see how so many churches, monasteries, "icon museums" etc were listed as places of interest. This is ironic given the campaign that was conducted in the northern part of the island after the ethnic cleansing which occured in 1974 to obliterate all signs of the pluralism and ethnic harmony which used to exist there, as it did everywhere in Cyprus. Perhaps we should take it as a positive sign, now that the nationalist old guard are no longer at the helm, that the tourist authorities in the north are promoting such monuments as places of interest.

You mean the few remaining ones, just to show the "pluralism" and "tolerance" they claim exists in the North. Where are the parishioners now by the way?

[Kypriotiki]

Last year, I saw a tourist brochure in English produced by the "TRNC" authorities aimed at foreign tourists. I was curious to see how so many churches, monasteries, "icon museums" etc were listed as places of interest. This is ironic given the campaign that was conducted in the northern part of the island after the ethnic cleansing which occured in 1974 to obliterate all signs of the pluralism and ethnic harmony which used to exist there, as it did everywhere in Cyprus. Perhaps we should take it as a positive sign, now that the nationalist old guard are no longer at the helm, that the tourist authorities in the north are promoting such monuments as places of interest.

Pray tell where I can get a copy of that brochure????

[Tim Drayton]

Pray tell where I can get a copy of that brochure????

I think I still have my copy. I will see if I can dig it out.
BTW I am not claiming that pluralism and harmony exist now in that part of Cyprus, just that once upon a time it did exist.

[Tim Drayton]

I have managed to dig up my copy of a glossy, richly illustrated 250+ page booklet entitled “North Cyprus Tourist Guide”.
As to where it can be obtained, the first paragraph of the introduction gives some information:
“It is indeed a pleasure to welcome you to North Cyprus. As Işıl Reklam Ltd., we have prepared an extensive and improved version of the North Cyprus Tourist Guide for you.
With an expanded and international crew, the better North Cyprus Tourist Guide is being distributed on all Onur Air flights which fly to 94 destinations around the world. The guide is accessible at Ercan Airport and at tourist information desks around North Cyprus. With 50,000 copies, the North Cyprus Tourist Guide is the most popular guidebook of its kind.”
The guide is divided into 6 sections covering different geographical areas, and each section includes a list of “historical sites”. I have listed all such sites shown in each section that make reference to civilisations other than the Ottomans/Turks or the British. I have also quoted quite liberally from the accompanying texts as I think it makes interesting reading. This brochure certainly could not have appeared in the Denktash era!
I have reproduced the original text retaining errors. The reference to Kutlu Adalı is mine.
Would anybody be interested in seeing scanned versions of a couple of pages? There are photographs of virtually all of the listed historical sites. If so, I need a little technical assistance as to how I can post scanned files here.

NICOSIA 25 including:
D. SELIMIYE MOSQUE (ST. SOPHIA CATHEDERAL)
G. ST. NICHOLAS CHURCH (BEDESTEN)
J. ARMENIAN (NOTRE DAME de TYRE) CHURCH
M. HAYDARPASHA MOSQUE (ST. CATHERINE CHURCH)
N. ST. LUCAS CHURCH
The church, which nowadays is the headquarters of the Cyprus Folklore Association, was built in 1758, when Archbishop Philatheos was the head of the church. Up until the 1950’s, a four-night fair was organised annually in honour of St. Lucas.
T. LUSIGNAN HOUSE
X. LATIN ARCHBISHOPRIC PALACE

GIRNE/KYRENIA 25 including:
A. KYRENIA CASTLE
F. CHRYSOPOLITISSA CHURCH
G. ARCHANGELOS MIKHAEL CHURCH (ICON MUSEUM)
The church, built in 1860, is to the west of the harbour. Outside the church is a marble sarcophagus from the Byzantine period. Currently, the church functions as the Icon Museum of Kyrenia displaying icons from the 18th century on.
I. KRISOKAVA OPEN AIR MUSEUM
…The Classical-Roman Aya Mavra Church , carved into a rock, is the main attraction of Chrysokava, its walls are covered with frescoes from the Byzantine period.
3. ST. HILARION CASTLE
5. PANAGIA TOU POTAMOU (DERYELI MERYEM) CHURCH
The church is in Ozankoy (Kazaphana), to the east of Kyrenia. This Byzantine building dates back to the 15th Century, and the medieval grave under the southern arch is thought to belong to the constructor of the church. Only a few of the frescoes have survived to our day, however the Venetian style blue and gold icon platform inside the church is in very good condition.
8. BELLAPAIS ABBEY
9. SOURP MAGAR MONASTERY
The monastery, one-mile west of Alevkayasi, was built around 1000 AD and was dedicated to Saint Makarius of Alexandria. In the 15th century, the monsterywas taken by Armenians, and became a rest point for Armenian pilgrims on the way to and from Jerusalem.
10. BUFFAVENTO CASTLE
11. ANTIPHONITIS CHURCH
Eight kilometres south of Esentepe village, Antiphonitis Church used to be the center of an influential monastery. Its fresco-covered walls are very interesting. The church, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, was built in the 7th century, however the nartex to its west and the gallery to its south were added by the Lusignans. Built during the Byzantine period, it is thought to be built by local artists due to its unusual style.
12. PANAGIA PELENDRYNA MONASTERY
The 15th century monastery is thought to have been built over the remains of a pagan temple. The monastery was enlarged and repaired over the 16th century.
13. THE TOMB OF HOGARTH
14. KARMI NECROPOLIS
15. LAMBOUSA ANTIQUE CITY

GÜZELYURT/MORPHOU 10 including:
B. ST. MAMAS CHURCH AND ICON MUSEUM
The church in the monastery was originally a Byzantine building., however it has been re-constructed various times , and it has obtained its dominant Gothic style in the Middle Ages. The contents of the church such as the seat of St. Mamas and the detailed carved stone window of the west wall have survived to our day.
The icon section of the church dates back to the Lusignan and Venetian periods. On the four beautiful Venetian pillars are carved fig, grape and shield figures, as well as the Venetian coat of arms. These pillars date back to the year 1500 AD. The pulpit was built in 1711, the oldest icon: in 1745, and the monastery rooms: in 1779. The white marble grave of St. Mamas is under the grand arch in the church.
C. TUMBA TOU SKURU RESIDENTIAL AREA
17. PIGADES (MIRTU – CHAMLIBEL) TEMPLE
19. SOLI RUINS
21. VOUNI PALACE AND RUINS
22. PETRA TOU LIMNIDI

GAZİMAĞUSA/FAMAGUSTA 37 including:
B. SINAN PASHA MOSQUE (ST. PETER AND ST. PAUL CHURCH)
C. VENETIAN PALACE
D. LALA MUSTAFA PASHA MOSQUE (ST. NICHOLAS CATHEDERAL)
The cathedral in Namik Kemal Square, built by the Lusignans between 1298 and 1312, is a stunning example of gothic architecture. Lusignan kings of Cyprus were crowned in this cathedral.
During Ottoman rule, the cathedral was transformed into a mosque without any changes to its originality.
F. NESTORIAN CHURCH (Ayios GEORGHIOS XORINOS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH)
It was originally built for the Syrians in Famagusta by a Syrian merchant named Francis Lakhas. After it was handed over to Greek Cypriots, the church was renamed “Ayios Georghios Xorinos”.
I. OTHELLO TOWER
J. PORTA DEL MARE
O. ST. NICHOLAS CHURCH
It is a small church built around the 15th century in the Byzantine style. The church, which is very similar to Ayia Zoni, is now in ruins.
P. AYIA ZONI CHURCH
Q. ST. ANNA CHURCH
S. ST. GEORGE OF THE GREEKS CHURCH
This Byzantine Orthodox Church is a grand and beautiful building. It is rumoured that the jewellery of Archbishop St. Epiphanios of Salamis (310 AD – 406 AD) is buried under the church.
T. MUSTAPHA PASHA MOSQUE (STAVROS CHURCH)
The church was built in the 16th century, and has a beautiful entrance. In 1571, it was transformed into a mosque by the addition of a minaret.
U. THE COLLAPSED CHURCHES
V. THE TWIN CHURCHES of the TEMPLARS and THE HOSPITALIERS
AA. CARMELITE CHURCH
FF. MARASH ICON MUSEUM (AYIOS YUANNIS CHURCH)
The church in the Marash district of Famagusta was built in 1960. It was transformed into an icon museum in 1994-1995. Most of the icons displayed at the museum originally belonged to the Ayios Yuannis Church.
GG. ST. GEORGE of the LATINS CHURCH
24. NECROOLIS OF SALAMIS
25. SALAMIS RUINS
27. ST BARNABUS MONASTERY and ICON MUSEUM
The monastery is named after St. Barnabus, who was a salamis Jew, and who killed in 45 AD for trying to convert the people to Christianity with St. Paul. The monastery was built by the Church of Cyprus in 477 AD on the spot where St. Barnabus was buried by his mentees, with a bible of St. Mathew on his chest.
The monastery and the church were renovated in 1992 and transformed into an archaeology and icon museum.
(Perhaps we can pause here to remember the Turkish Cypriot journalist Kutlu Adalı, who was murdered in front of his house in a residential street of Nicosia on 6 July 1996 after ignoring death threats and continuing work on a series of articles which aimed to expose how the Turkish military and “TRNC” security forces had colluded to steal priceless works of art from the above monastery. T.D.)

İSKELE 5 including
28. PANAGIA THEODOROU CHURCH (YENI ISKELE ICON MUSEUM)
29. AYIOS YAKAVOS CHURCH 9ST. JAMES CHURCH)
The little 14th century church is found in the centre of Yeni Iskele village. It is said that this church had astonished Queen Maria of Romania, who had a very similar one constructed at her temple on the Black Sea coast. The porcelain on the dome and the windows give the church its unique elegance. The most important part of the church however is the Byzantine bell tower.
30. LIVADYA (SAZLIKOY) PANAGIA KYRA CHURCH
The tiny Byzantine church just outside of Sazlıköy possesses 6th century mosaic figures of Virgin Mary. Around the church are also ruins of an ancient city, which dates back to the late Roman period.
31. KANTARA CASTLE

DIPKARPAZ 7 including
34. PANAGIA KANAKARIA CHURCH
The church is just outside Boltashli village. Archelogists claim that there used to be two churches at this spot, one of which used to belong to the Byzantine population.
34. NITOVIKLA CASTLE
35. KASTROS NEOLITHIC CITY
36. AYIOS TRIAS BASILICA
The 5th century basilica, situated near Sipahi village on the Karpaz peninsula, was discovered in 1957 by chance. It includes a nartex, an atrium and additional rooms.
The basilica mosaics are full of leaf and cross figures. The mosaics were read to have ben crafted by Eastern Mediterranean artists.
37. AYIOS PHILON CHURCH
Ayios Philon Church, built in the 5th century BC, is the sole remnant of the ancient Phoenecian city of Karpasia which used to be a marketplace between Salamis and Anatolia.
38. APHENDRIKA (URANIA)
Ruins of an ancient marina, tombs from the Hellenistic period and a fortress from the Late Greek period can all be seen at the site of Aphrendika which used to be one of the six major towns in Cyprus in the 3rd century BC. One of the three churches of the city, namely St. George, is Byzantine. The other two, namely Panagia Chrysiotissa and Panagia Asomatos, were built in the Romanesque style in the 12th century AD.
39. APOSTOLOS ANDREAS MONASTERY
The monastery is found at the very tip of the Karpaz Peninsula, on Cape Zafer. Apostolos Andreas, who originally was a follower of John the Baptist, was called for by Jesus Christ to spread Christianity.
As he was the first man who was called for to become a priest, he also received the title of “O Protoklidos” which means “the first one to have been called”. His monastery is accepted to be ‘sacred’ by both Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots.