Erimi, Cyprus, March 5, 2026
Photo: ekklisiaonline.gr
As the village of Akrotiri on Cyprus’ southern coast underwent mandatory evacuation following a drone strike on the nearby British military base, the Monastery of St. George of the Caves in Erimi opened its doors to displaced residents, offering shelter to at least 25 people.
The evacuation was ordered after an Iranian-made Shahed-type drone struck the runway at RAF Akrotiri shortly after midnight on March 2, causing minor damage but no casualties. A second drone heading toward the base was intercepted by Cypriot and British defenses later that day. With a second security threat declared around midday, Cypriot authorities extended the evacuation order to the neighboring village. Residents said they received little to no advance warning, with many learning of the strike only after hearing the explosion.
The monastery responded to a request from local municipal authorities made during the evacuation. After receiving the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Athanasios of Limassol, the community opened its available spaces to displaced families, housing each in a separate room, reports Ekklisia Online.
Photo: ekklisiaonline.gr
The abbot noted that additional families could still be accommodated.
Among those sheltering there was a resident named Douxoula, who described arriving first at a school in Erimi before being transferred to the monastery. “We took only the bare essentials,” she said. Others who were evacuated went to relatives, remained at the Erimi school, or were moved to hotels in Limassol.
The mandatory evacuation order remained in effect at the time of reporting, with no date given for when residents would be permitted to return. The drone strike came amid broader regional escalation following a US-Israeli military operation against Iran, which prompted retaliatory strikes on Western military assets across the region.
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