Rizokarpaso, Cyprus. Services at the Apostolos Andreas monastery in Rizokarpaso are set to resume on Sunday after a suspension of more than two months, according to the Office of the Presidential Commissioner. The monthly services are held on the first Sunday of each month.
Resumption of services
According to an announcement issued on Friday by presidential commissioner Marinos Hartsiotis’ office, the services will restart following President Nikos Christodoulides’ “decisive and personal intervention” with the Turkish Cypriot side, which enabled an agreement for their continuation.
Religious rights and access
The office said that “the unhindered exercise of religious rights, respect for places of worship and access for believers” remain issues of high importance. It added that it will continue to monitor developments with consistency and responsibility.
Historical significance of the monastery
The monastery, located in the Karpass peninsula, has historically been one of the most significant religious sites for the Greek Cypriot community.
Traditional accounts state that Saint Andrew arrived at the site after his ship went off course while travelling to Jerusalem and struck rocks along the coast.
Historical references place a fortified monastery on the site by the 12th century, where Isaac Komnenos is said to have negotiated his surrender to Richard the Lionheart.
The main church dates to the 18th century, while the present monastery buildings were completed around a century later.
