'Religion only' at Ayios Mamas, Morphou mayor says

SERVICES at the Greek Orthodox church of Ayios Mamas in occupied Morphou at the beginning of next month should be a purely religious occasion, devoid of any politicking, Morphou mayor Charalambos Pittas said yesterday.

The initiative to celebrate the Saint's day on September 1 and 2 for the first time in 30 years since the Turkish invasion, was announced on Sunday by Bishop Neophytos of Morphou.

Pittas said he would attend the service at Ayios Mamas as long as it was not shaded by politics. He was speaking following a meeting with the Bishop on Wednesday night.

"It is clearly an ecclesiastical matter, which is why we requested that the Bishop of Morphou keep it as such," he said. "As long as this occasion is not coloured by 'yes' and 'no' camps, and that it's not politicised, then I, as mayor, will stand by the Morphou Bishop's side."

Bishop Neophytos was on open supporter of the Annan plan for reunification and has said that resuming services in the church would be a step forward in creating a climate of trust and security on both sides.

But Pittas added that he was saddened people had expressed the desire to speak at the service, as it would give the occasion a political aspect.

"Attempts for rapprochement of our people are wanted and a must, because following a solution there must be consent and preparation for this solution to work, and there must be a climate of mutual understanding," he said.

Meanwhile, although local politicians welcomed the move and stressed the need to avoid politicising the occasion, Turkish Cypriot right-wing daily, Volkan, called on Greek Cypriots not to hold the religious ceremony.

The paper yesterday published a picture of Turkish Cypriots allegedly murdered by Greek Cypriots in Paphos in March 1964, along with a destroyed Turkish Cypriot cemetery. It wrote: "Are those who did these (things) going to come to Morphou and organise a religious ceremony? Let them not come, because we will not be responsible for the incidents that will be caused."

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.