Archbishop of the Church of Cyprus Chrysostomos II will be reporting the obstruction by the Turkish occupation regime of the maintenance of St. Andrew`s Monastery, and has called on the regime for the last time to allow restoration work, otherwise the Archbishopric would go ahead anyway at the risk of arrest.
Speaking at a press conference, the Archbishop noted that key stones in apses have shifted and the monastery was in danger of collapsing, adding that the aim of the Turks was to let monuments collapse so that there is no trace of Greeks or Christians in the occupied areas.
He also called on the people to avoid visiting the monastery until restoration begins.
The Archbishop explained that key stones of the apse of the sanctuary`s hemispherical vault had shifted and the dome was in danger of collapsing.
``We are warning the occupation regime for the last time. Through the UN we will call on them to allow us to support this apse and any other worn parts of the church. If they do not allow maintenance, we will take builders to fix the apse without a permit and if they wish to arrest us, then let them arrest us. We will on no account let the church of St. Andrew collapse,`` he said.
The Archbishop noted that this work should have been done a long time ago, and pointed out that Islamic monuments in the southern government-controlled areas of the Republic have already been restored.
``This is the last call to the occupation forces. Otherwise we will proceed with maintenance without them and they will be responsible,`` he added.
Archbishop Chrysostomos II said ``we are ready to report this everywhere, at the UN, the EU and any fora we have access to,`` adding that it was urgent, since the apse of the sanctuary could collapse any minute.
``The occupation forces are trying to let anything Christian in the occupied areas collapse, as well as any Greek monument. They want the Greek and Christian monuments to disappear from the northern occupied areas so that the passing of Greeks and Christians is not evident,`` he added.CNA
| Overall experience | |
|---|---|
| Green values | |
| Location | |
| Value for money | |
| Service |
