For the first time since the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, Holy Mass was held on Sunday morning at the village church of Palaikythro, a Turkish-occupied village in the Nicosia District.
The Mass at Panayia Galaktotrofousa Church was attended by hundreds of people from Palaikythro, after securing a relevant permission for the first time, following several similar ill-fated requests in the past.
According to Salpy Eskidjian from the Office of the Religious Track of the Cyprus Peace Process, that operates under the auspices of the Embassy of Sweden, the Mass was officiated by Bishop Porfyrios of Neapolis and was attended by Fuat Tosun, the Mufti of Kyrenia, who represented Grand Mufti Talip Atalay. The latter has personally intervened to secure today`s permission, Eskidjian noted.
She added that the event was held in a very positive atmosphere and was attended by hundreds of people.
Eskidjian stated that religious freedom is part and parcel of the human rights agenda, which includes the right to worship. “This is what the religious leaders are working for”, she said, adding that inter-religious dialogue contributes to peace in the island.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. UN-led talks, aiming to reunite the island under a federal roof, resumed on May 15, this year.
