Conservation works on two churches in Famagusta area completed

Works to conserve the Ayios Georgios church and the Panayia Ayia Napa church, were completed on Thursday.

The churches, which are both located in the Famagusta area, were the subject of conservation efforts led by the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage (TCCH) and supported by both the European Union and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The completion of the projects was marked by an event during which Jakhongir Khaydarov, the UNDP’s Head of Office in Cyprus, said that the conservation efforts represent “a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to preserving Cyprus’s rich cultural heritage”.

He added that such projects highlight the importance of safeguarding shared heritage for future generations.

Stefan Simosas, Head of Cooperation for the European Commission’s Cyprus Settlement Support, said the churches “represent not just the multicultural richness of Cyprus but also the importance of restoring and preserving monuments as a tool to foster peace building and reconciliation”.

The TCCH’s Greek Cypriot co-chair Sotos Ktoris also praised the conservation works.

“The churches not only serve as physical testaments to our past but also as a source of inspiration for the present and the future.”

He also described cultural heritage as a bridge that connects us to our roots and serves as a platform for understanding, respect, and appreciation among Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.

His Turkish Cypriot co-chair Ali Tuncay said that the committee is proud to be able to promote cooperation between Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots.

The two churches are the latest of 123 cultural heritage sites across Cyprus which have been conserved, structurally supported, physically protected, or restored by the TCCH and UNDP since, with the EU having provided almost 25 million euros in funding.