Cyprus-Forum.com

[DT.]

Cyprus Archbishop protests entrance fee in Apostolos Andreas monastery



09/07/2008


Archbishop of the Church of Cyprus Chrysostomos II has described as unacceptable the demand of the Turkish occupation authorities to oblige pilgrims to the Apostolos Andreas (Saint Andrew) monastery in the occupied areas to pay an entrance fee in order to visit the site, noting that the Church would be protesting to the UN and Europe.

Speaking at Larnaca Airport before departing for Athens, the Archbishop said that ''unfortunately things at the Apostolos Andreas monastery are becoming harder,'' adding that on Tuesday the Bishop of Karpasia visited the monastery in view of restoration works and was requested to pay an entrance fee of one euro.

''The Turks insisted that in order for him to enter the monastery he had to pay a fee,'' the Archbishop explained, noting that the excuse was to use the money for maintenance of the environment around the Apostolos Andreas monastery.

Archbishop Chrysostomos II said ''this is an unacceptable situation, we deplore it,'' noting that on his return from Athens he would be complaining to the UN and Europe because ''they should not prevent the Christians from going on a pilgrimage, which the Turks should respect.''

''They should permit our Christians to visit places of worship, carry out their religious duties without difficulties or obstacles,'' he pointed out.

He assured that ''we will not tolerate this situation'' and that the government has not imposed an entrance fee on any mosque in the government controlled areas, maintained at its own expenses.

[Oracle]

This is an outrageous insult.

To expect a set fee is to discourage frequent visitations ... on top of the extra costs of having to get there due to the encumbrance of the occupation .... not to mention the costs already incurred by the refugees in losing their homes ... not to mention the cost to the rest of the Cypriots in not utilising their whole country.

They'll be asking us to fund the presence of their occupying Turkish soldiers and settlers soon .. (Oh hang on .. we are already funding them )

Hordes of heathen hoodlum hustler Huns!!

[tessintrnc]

No one should be charged ANYTHING for worshiping in a holy place. A collection box for voluntary donations for upkeep is one thing but this charge is apalling.

[Viewpoint]

You pay quite heafty charges in other countries whats the problem?

[kurupetos]

You pay quite heafty charges in other countries whats the problem?

But u can't accuse the ROC this time little turk.

By the way, what is the fee for visiting a mosque in the "TRNC"?

[tessintrnc]

Not to worship you don't. I would be upset to visit a Catholic church and have to pay to go in, it makes a mockery of a Holy place. If the people are "just visitors/tourists" - there to have a look-see then ok, but Orthodox Christian pilgrims should be exempt. I feel very strongly about that.

[Viewpoint]

You pay quite heafty charges in other countries whats the problem?

But u can't accuse the ROC this time little turk.

By the way, what is the fee for visiting a mosque in the "TRNC"?

Haven't a clue never been.

[Kikapu]

You pay quite heafty charges in other countries whats the problem?

These people were in their own country of Cyprus and at their own church.!!

Not in Istanbul, if you are a Turks that is. If you are visiting "active mosques" such as the Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii) in Istanbul, they charge the foreigners but Turkish speakers have a seperate entrance that is totally free. I know this, because when I asked in Turkish how much to pay for entrance, they sent me and my girlfriend around the corner to a "Turkish entrance". It was FREE.

[Viewpoint]

Not to worship you don't. I would be upset to visit a Catholic church and have to pay to go in, it makes a mockery of a Holy place. If the people are "just visitors/tourists" - there to have a look-see then ok, but Orthodox Christian pilgrims should be exempt. I feel very strongly about that.

Maybe the renovation should not be funded in this way but in a country where you are isolated and unable to bolster your economy due to inhumane embargoes you have to take drastic measures as we all know tourists who visit religious sites all over the world pay some sort of small fee.

[DT.]

Not to worship you don't. I would be upset to visit a Catholic church and have to pay to go in, it makes a mockery of a Holy place. If the people are "just visitors/tourists" - there to have a look-see then ok, but Orthodox Christian pilgrims should be exempt. I feel very strongly about that.

Well done Tess