Kyrenia, Cyprus. A planned pilgrimage to the Sourp Magar Armenian monastery in the Kyrenia district was cancelled at the last minute by the Turkish Cypriot authorities, Armenian Cypriot non-voting representative in parliament Vartkes Mahdessian said on Thursday.
Permission process and cancellation
Mahdessian told the Cyprus Mail that paperwork for the trip had been filed through the United Nations to the Turkish Cypriot ‘foreign ministry’ three months in advance. He said the Armenian Cypriot community was informed last Saturday that the pilgrimage could go ahead this Sunday.
He said the community was informed on Monday that there had been a clerical error and that permission for the pilgrimage had been revoked.
Community planning and significance
Mahdessian said the pilgrimage took place annually before the Covid-19 pandemic, then stopped, and that it was now important to resume because funding was beginning to be provided to renovate the monastery. He said progress had been made, but the revocation of permission meant “we have taken one step forward and two steps back”.
He said that after being told on Saturday the pilgrimage could happen, the community organised buses and announced registrations, with around 60 to 70 people registering. He added that people typically come from abroad to attend.
Turkish Cypriot side’s explanation
Turkish Cypriot ‘foreign minister’ Tahsin Ertugruloglu told the Cyprus Mail that permission had not been granted due to the physical state of the monastery, which he said is derelict. He said a different church would be suggested to the Armenian Cypriot community to allow for a pilgrimage to take place in the future.
Historical background
Mahdessian said the pilgrimage traditionally took place on the first Sunday of May, in line with the Armenian Christian feast of Sourp Magar celebrating Saint Macarius of Alexandria.
The monastery was dedicated to Saint Macarius of Alexandria by the Coptic Orthodox Church, which scholars say owned the monastery before it was transferred to the Armenian Cypriot community in the late 14th or early 15th century.
What impact do you think the cancellation will have on efforts to renovate the Sourp Magar monastery?
