Nicosia, October 14, 2026
Photo: orthodoxianewsagency.gr
Two important Byzantine icons that were illegally taken from Cyprus after the 1974 Turkish invasion are home at last. The Holy Metropolis of Morphou announced their repatriation with great emotion.
The icons, Palaiologan works from the 14th century, depict the Evangelists Matthew and Mark. They come from the Byzantine church of the Panagia Phorviotissa in Asinou. Before the 1974 invasion, they’d been moved to the Mansion of the Holy Metropolis of Kyrenia, where they were stolen, reports the Orthodoxia News Agency.
The icons were located in the United Kingdom. Their movements were documented and the Church of Cyprus’s rights to them were recognized, which made it possible to return them to where they belong. They were handed over to the Metropolis of Morphou at no cost, as the new owner didn’t demand any compensation.
The Metropolis of Morphou expresses its warmest thanks to everyone who contributed to the return of the icons.
The icons of the Evangelists Mark and Matthew are valuable testimony to Byzantine art and to Cyprus’s ecclesiastical and cultural heritage. Two other icons from the Great Deesis of the Panagia Phorviotissa, those of the Apostles Peter and Paul, were repatriated from New York in 2007.
Other icons, of the Theotokos, St. John the Forerunner and the Evangelists John the Theologian and Luke are still being sought.
OrthoChristian has reported on the return of stolen Church valuables to Cyprus many times. In 2018, a 6th-century mosaic of St. Andrew the First-Called was returned; in 2019, relics of St. Mamas of Caesarea, which were also saved from auction, were returned to Cyprus; in 2021, 18th-century royal doors were repatriated from Japan to Cyprus; in February 2022, an 18th-century icon of St. John the Baptist was returned; and in July 2022, a 16th-century if icon of Christ was returned.
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