Archbishop Georgios III of Cyprus asked people to remain preoccupied over the Turkish-occupied, as well as the free areas of the Republic of Cyprus, during a reception on Tuesday evening at the Archbishop’s Palace, in Nicosia.
A meeting of Ecclesiastical Committees from the Turkish-occupied areas of the Archdiocesan Region and a mass at the Cathedral of the Apostle Barnabas, preceded the reception.
The Archbishop said that because of Turkey’s occupation, many Cypriots are not able to visit their villages, their churches and schools in the northern part of the island. Lately, he went on, Turkey overtly reveals its goal to occupy the whole of the island, he wen ont.
The Primate of the Church of Cyprus noted that this is the reason we should all be concern for both the Turkish-occupied areas and the free areas of the Republic of Cyprus.
He said that he comes from a village that is semi-occupied and therefore he can understand the pain of the refugees.
Bishop of Mesaoria Grigorios, who also attended the gathering, spoke of the pain deriving from the continuous occupation of Cypriot land and from the violation of human rights.
Charalambos Athanasiou, community leader of Turkish-occupied Trachonas, said that the fight continues for the return of all refugees to their homes.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.
Source: Cyprus News Agency