Kyrenia:Two important Byzantine icons, illegally removed following the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, have been repatriated to Cyprus. These icons, depicting the Evangelists Matthew and Mark, are Palaiologan works from the 14th century and originate from the Byzantine Church of Panagia Phorviotissa at Asinou.

According to Cyprus News Agency, before the 1974 invasion, the icons had been moved to the Holy Metropolis of Kyrenia in Kyrenia, from where they were stolen. Their return to Cyprus was secured after their discovery in the United Kingdom, along with the documentation of their movements and recognition of the Church of Cyprus's legal rights. The holder did not seek compensation, allowing the icons to be handed over to the Metropolis of Morphou at no cost.

The return of these icons is significant for Cyprus, marking not just the recovery of precious art but also the restoration of artefacts of faith, history, and memory to their rightful location. The icons are considered invaluable to Byzantine art and Cyprus's ecclesiastical and cultural heritage.

Previously, in 2007, two additional icons from the Great Deesis of Panagia Phorviotissa, depicting the Apostles Peter and Paul, were repatriated from New York. The series also includes the icon of Christ Pantocrator, which remains intact, while the icons of the Mother of God, St John the Forerunner, and the Evangelists John the Theologian and Luke are still missing.

Cyprus has been divided since the 1974 invasion, with Turkey occupying 37% of its territory.