By Alexia Evripidou
Reactions have been mixed to last week’s historic Good Friday liturgy at the Ayios Giorgos Exorinos church in Famagusta.
The ceremony was welcomed as a message of hope and reconciliation by some, and as a ‘glass half empty’ by others.
Thousands of people, including foreign diplomats, local political party leaders, and Famagusta refugees, travelled to witness the first such liturgy at the church in almost six decades. The historic event was hailed by UN and attending foreign ambassadors as an initiative which could serve as a prime example of restoring trust between the island’s two communities.
Archbishop Chrystostomos said the wall-to-wall TV coverage at home and abroad gave the false impression that the Turkish side was democratic.
But for real progress to occur, he said, Greek Cypriots must be allowed to use all of their churches in the north. The Good Friday liturgy had taken place in only one of those churches, he said.
Famagusta Mayor Alexis Galanos also tempered his comments.
“I believe it is a positive step but we must not exaggerate, we must continue building on it. Talks are still continuing and we would like to see the same thing [as Good Friday] happen in all our churches,” he said.
Putting politics aside, however, Galanos talked about the important effect it had on the worshippers. “Thousands of people were delighted to be able go to the church. It was not about politics for them”. However, it is up to the politicians and Europe now to see a continuation of this, he said.
The UN Secretary General’s Representative in Cyprus, Lisa Buttenheim told the Cyprus News Agency that she welcomed Good Friday’s service, the first since 1957 at Ayios Giorgos. “After so long, it’s a positive development. I appreciate that the mayors of Famagusta Mr Galanos and Mr Kayalp have once again come together to help make this happen. Such initiatives improve the atmosphere and build trust,” she said.
British High Commissioner Mathew Kidd and Ambassador of the Netherlands Brechje Schwachofer, both shared their pleasure at being able to participate in the celebrations. Kidd commented how the event was “an example of how both communities can work in partnership to foster respect for each other and deliver results”.
The Turkish Cypriot Mufti, Dr Talip Atalay attended the ceremony and gifts were exchanged between him and the Bishop of Constantia and Famagusta, Vasilios – who led the service. Furthermore, a representative of the East Mediterranean University went on to give the Bishop the key for the church. “This is not a gift. This is being returned to its owner,” he said.
Galanos told the Cyprus Mail yesterday: “The event conveyed a very good message. If people want to see the positive of this event, they will. If people want to see negative, then they will find that too, however, religious talks can only go so far, the real issues need to be resolved on the political table”.
The church lies within the walled city of Famagusta, which is very close to the fenced off area of Famagusta, known as Varosha, under Turkish occupation since 1974. The UN has called for the return of the town to its lawful inhabitants but so far, Ankara refuses to comply.
Send to Kindle