EUROPE/CYPRUS - Presented to Pope Benedict XVI photographic documentation on the transformation for other purposes of churches in the Turkish part of Cyprus

Tuesday, 14 November 2006

Rome (Agenzia Fides) - During the official visit to the Vatican on November 10 by the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Pope Benedict XVI was presented with photographic documentation of how hundreds of churches on the part of the Island under Turkish military occupation have been transformed and used for various purposes.
According to the government of the Republic of Cyprus in the past 30 years 133 churches, chapels and monasteries have been desecrated and transformed into stables, hotels, hostels and night clubs, 78 are now mosques, 28 are used for military ends and installation of hospitals, 13 are used as storerooms. Furthermore 15,000 icons were illegally removed and the present location of these items is unknown.
Fides intends to publish photographs of the transformed church buildings in the coming days. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 14/11/2006 righe 15 parole 145)


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