Conservation work begins at Panayia Melandrina church and Kato Arodes mosque

Kalogrea, Cyprus. The bicommunal Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage is beginning conservation work at the Panayia Melandrina church in Kyrenia district and the Kato Arodes mosque in Paphos district. Both projects are funded by the European Union and implemented under the guidance of the UNDP.

Work at Panayia Melandrina

The church dates to the 15th century, according to a social media post by the committee’s Greek Cypriot co-chair, Sotos Ktoris. Emergency work was carried out in 2014 to prevent it from collapsing, but Ktoris said the temporary measures had reached their limits 12 years later.

A comprehensive architectural study has been prepared, he said, and the new work aims to restore the church’s structural integrity and protect it over the long term. Ktoris announced the start of work at the Kato Arodes mosque in a separate post.

Vokolida project completed

Ktoris also said conservation work had been completed at the Ayios Georgios church and the community’s cemetery in Vokolida, on the Karpasia peninsula. The project received financial support from the European Union and the community, with technical supervision from the UNDP.

“Every project that is completed serves the memory and cultural heritage of the island and highlights the value of cooperation between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots,” Ktoris said.