For the first time after almost six decades a liturgy will be held today, Good Friday, at the church of St. George the Exiler in the Turkish occupied town of Famagusta.
“For the first time in 58 years a liturgy will be held at the church of St. George the Exiler, within Mediaeval Famagusta. It is not just the emotional side of the issue and the fact that it has been embraced by thousands of faithful, and the church, but there is also a symbolism and the message of reconciliation that will be sent with this liturgy, with this pilgrimage, and the procession of the Epitaph, on a smaller scale, outside the church`, Mayor of Famagusta Alexis Galanos has said.
Thousands of people are expected to attend the liturgy, among which political party leaders and foreign diplomats.
According to Galanos, such events create the necessary climate “to proceed with our efforts to reunify our country, to form a united Cyprus, of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, to live together in a single state, reconciled, with our common interests before us, and our common visions for our children”.
“It is very important to send the right messages and for the international community and especially the European community and the USA to realise that this trauma and drama for the Cypriot people cannot continue”, he said.
Archimandrite Avgoustinos Kkaras of the Metropolis of Constantia and Famagusta conveyed the support of Bishop Vassilios, noting that the event was first and foremost a church and religious one, and would also contribute to rapprochement and the bonding of the two communities.
The church of Saint George the Exiler lies within the walled city of Famagusta, which is at very close proximity to the fenced off area of Famagusta, known as Varosha, on the eastern coast.
The UN consider Turkey responsible for Varosha and have called for the return of the town to its lawful inhabitants. Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades, engaged in peace talks with the Turkish Cypriot leader, has proposed the return of the city as a confidence building measure to restore trust between the island`s two communities, divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion.
