Religion in North Cyprus

Islam

The religion is Muslim, but most Cypriots do not practise their faith. There are very few covered women here and those that are will be from Turkey. Although very few Cypriots attend mosque services or wear religious attire, they do celebrate religious festivals.

After 1974 the Turkish Cypriot government invited Turkish people to settle in the under-populated North. They needed help with industry and agriculture. Many of these people have made Cyprus their home. The call to prayer is made five times a day. Strict Muslims do not drink or gamble.

Services

Christians

Three branches of Christianity serve the visiting and resident communities in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The Anglican Church of St. Andrew in Girne near the Castle, the Roman Catholic Church near the Dome Hotel in Girne, the Maronite Church of Ayois Georgios in Korucam, the Greek Orthodox Church at Depkarpaz. On 30 November (St. Andrew’s Day) each year a service is held in the Apostolos Andreas Monastery Church on Zafer Burnu. Relations with the Islamic Institutions are cordial and relaxed with opportunities offered and taken especially at festival times.
North Cyprus Church, Services

• Anglican Church

  The Anglican Church follows the establishment of Church of England. In this context the categorization of Catholic and Protestant affiliation is often rather confusing. While many Anglicans consider themselves following the Protestant tradition, many others, especially Anglo-Catholics, do not regard themselves as being Protestants. Anglo-Catholic devout use many traditional Catholic practices and are predominantly followers of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Anglican Church is however, considered both Catholic (stressing its tie-up with the ancient Church) and Reformed/Protestant (as this Church rejects the teaching of Roman Catholic Church and do not accept the authority of the Pope and thus became known as Protestant). However, the development of Anglican Church as a distinctive Church is deeply linked with the Protestant Reformation.

• Roman Catholic Church

  The Christian Church recognizes the superior Pope, currently Benedict XIV., and follows the teaching of "one holy catholic and apostolic Church by Jesus Christ". Worldwide the Church is hierarchically divided into jurisdictional areas usually having the territorial basis and the typical form of these is what is usually called in the Latin Church a diocese, in the East an eparchy, headed by a bishop or eparch known in the Latin Church as a diocesan Bishop.

  In Kyrenia the service is served by the priest coming from the Holy Cross Catholic Church in the south part of Nicosia. The services are held according the schedule.

  Terra Santa Roman Catholic Church in Kyrenia
  Ersin Sokak (on the right hand side of the road opposite the Dome Hotel)
  Priest: Fr. Umberto Barato, ofm
  Tel.: + 90 392 815 22 25
  Services: First and third Sundays in the month at 12.00 noon
  Website: www.cypruscatholicchurch.org/kyrena.php

Maronites

Also called Arabic Christians, Maronites came to Cyprus from Lebanon, where the community is much bigger. Acknowledging the supremacy of pope, however the Maronites have always been culturally similar to the Greek Orthodox Majority. What is left of the Kormakiti Maronite community now lives in the village, officially renamed Korucam in the Kyrenia range where the Maronite Church of Ayois Georgios was established.

Greek Orthodox Church

The Greek Cypriots make a part of The Eastern Orthodox Communion that encompasses the areas bound to the former Byzantine and Russian empires. It follows the teaching of Jesus and his Apostles via unbroken Apostolic Succession. Its doctrines and foundation are strongly associated to Saint Barnabas, Paul and Mark (45 A.D.). However, after thousand years of the existence the differences made clear between the Western and Eastern Roman Empire and led into the Great Schism in 1054 AD, splitting the Roman Catholics from the Eastern Orthodox. From Greece, it was rapidly spread throughout Cyprus, the proof of which is the number of Orthodox churches scattered over the island, in North Cyprus most of them converted to mosques or museums. There still exists the Apostolos Andreas Monastery in Depkarpaz in North Cyprus visited by Greek Cypriots twice a year, including on 30 November, which is St. Andrew's Day. In return, following the agreement reached by the Greek and the Turkish Cypriots, it allows both island and foreign Muslims to make a pilgrimage to Hala Sultan Tekke in South Cyprus.

Armenians

During 1915-1920 the Armenians made Cyprus their homeland. They lost its monasteries, schools as well as churches and other properties in 1974 Turkish invasion. To retain their identity, the Armenian community established their churches and schools that were built near to each other. In North Cyprus they are mixed with the Turk population, like in Turkey or elsewhere. Sourpmagar Monastery near Kyrenia features the dwelling and culture of the Armenian community in North Cyprus.

People of Bahá'i Faith

The Bahá'í Faith is an independent world religion. With the believers all over the world, including North Cyprus, the Bahá'í Faith is based on the spiritual purpose - to bring about the oneness of humanity. In cooperation with these same principles, Bahá'ís also believe that there is only one Creator and that the spiritual truth of all religions is the same.

For more information on Bahá'i Faith in North Cyprus, contact:
Mr Mulla Mustafa Salman
P.O.Box 54,
Nicosia,
Northern Cyprus,
(via Mersin 10, TURKEY)
Tel: + 90 392 227 6898 or 223 1704
Fax: + 90 392 366 1705