Kythrea, Nikosia, District, Cyprus, October 9, 2023
Photo: philenews.com
The Turkish authorities occupying half of Cyprus continue to desecrate and abuse holy Orthodox churches there.
In one of the most recent examples, the Church of St. Anna in Kythrea, Nicosia District, was turned into a boxing school. It is unknown what happened to the icons on the iconostasis that the “owners” of the boxing school removed, reports philenews.com.
Photo: philenews.com
Earlier, the church was desecrated when it was converted into a mosque. It was built around 1850, but after the Turkish invasion of 1974, it functioned as a mosque until three or four years ago. Having been severely damaged over the years, the local occupying authorities abandoned the building and built another mosque across the street.
Photo: philenews.com
When the local Orthodox faithful realized that the building had been abandoned, they took the initiative to clean it and erect a temporary iconostasis, with the hope that the locals would be able to visit the church, at least once a year on the feast of St. Anna (December 9).
Photo: philenews.com
Unfortunately, the occupying authorities then gave permits to Turkish settlers to open a gym in the church, and now punching bags hang from the ceiling and there is a boxing ring in the center of the church.
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