Morphou church services to restart - Cautious response to bishop's initiative to host first religious service for 30 years

SERVICES will take place at the Greek Orthodox church of Ayios Mamas in occupied Morphou for the first time in 30 years on September 1 and 2 following an initiative by Bishop Neophytos of Morphou.

Reaction to the move was cautious yesterday, with Bishop Chrysostomos of Paphos welcoming the development but stating that he didn't see any reason to thank the Turkish Cypriot side.

Speaking to the Cyprus Mail, Bishop Chrysostomos said he didn't know how the move had come about, but said he believed it was a result of recent negotiations between right-wing DISY and the Turkish Cypriot leadership.

"All I know is that negotiations have been going on for some time to have services resumed at Ayios Mamas," the Bishop said.

The United Democrats welcomed the move. AKEL also said it was a positive development but warned that it should remain purely a religious occasion and should not be political in any way.

AKEL's Christos Mavrokordatos said that although he was raised in Morphou near the church itself, he did not think it was right as a politician to show his passport or ID in order to visit the occupied areas.

Bishop Neophytos could not be reached for comment yesterday, but on Monday, during an event to mark the anniversary of the fall of Morphou, he called on all Greek Orthodox Cypriots to go to Ayios Mamas to celebrate the Saint's day, September 1 and 2.

Ayios Mamas is one of the most important places of worship for Greek Orthodox faithful in Cyprus and has, in recent years, been used as a museum by the Turkish Cypriot administration.

Bishop Neophytos, who supported the Annan plan for reunification, said that resuming services in the church would be a step forward in creating a climate of trust and security as well as eradicating "the mistakes and fears of the past that divide the people of Cyprus and make them feel insecure".

He called on all to attend the evening service as well as the ceremony on the Saint's day "and pray to God and to the Patron Saint of Morphou, so that the way is soon paved for reunification of our home country.

"Clergymen are today invited to become the bridge on which Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots as well as politicians, will be invited to walk on," the Bishop said.

Morphou Mayor Charalambos Pittas told the Cyprus Mail yesterday he was not aware of how it had come about but that he was pleased with the development. Pittas said he would be meeting Bishop Neophytos today to discuss it further.

"The operation of Ayios Mamas and the fact that they (the Turks) admitted after 30 years, that it is the Holy Church of Ayios Mamas, is a very important fact for me," he said.

DISY's Andreas Papapoliviou said that he would go on September 1 saying it was an important occasion.

But DIKO deputy and former Morphou Mayor Antigoni Papadopoulou said that "going back, even for worshiping, by showing our passports, is wrong".
"Emotionally though, I would like to be present at the celebrations for the Saint of Morphou," she said.

"My inalienable right to return as the legitimate citizen is the reason for my struggle. To return either as a worshipper or a tourist to my home, I think that it is something temporary that does not contribute to our final goal."