Two 14th-century Byzantine icons returned to Cyprus after being traced to the UK

Morphou, Cyprus. Two 14th-century Byzantine icons depicting the Evangelists Matthew and Mark have been repatriated to Cyprus after being smuggled following the 1974 Turkish invasion, the bishopric of Morphou announced on Friday.

Recovery and return

The icons originated from the 12th-century Panayia church of Asinou in Troodos. They had been transferred to Kyrenia before the invasion and were subsequently stolen from there.

According to the announcement, the icons were traced to the United Kingdom, their movements were documented and the ownership rights of the Church of Cyprus were recognised.

They were returned to the bishopric of Morphou without compensation, as their owner did not seek payment.

The church thanked the antiquities department, its director George Georgiou, police chief Themistos Arnaoutis, Interpol, and theologian and iconographer George Petrou for their assistance.

Other icons in the series

The icons belong to a series associated with the Asinou church. Two other works from the same series, depicting the apostles Peter and Paul, were returned from New York in 2007.

An icon of Christ remains preserved, while works depicting the Virgin Mary, St John the Baptist and the Evangelists John and Luke are still being sought.

The antiquities department has spent decades tracing and seeking the return of religious and cultural artefacts looted from churches and other sites following the invasion.