Dr. Mihaela Gligor, a researcher at the “George Barițiu” Institute of History of the Romanian Academy in Cluj-Napoca, spent two weeks at the “Agios Epiphanios” Cultural Academy in Ayia Napa as part of the RESILIENCE Transnational Access (TNA) Fellowship. Her research, focused on collective memory, identity and migration, found a particularly fertile ground in Cyprus — a country with a complex history of displacement, division and deep-rooted religious tradition. During her stay, Dr. Gligor came into contact with local communities, clergy and sites of memory, gaining new perspectives on how people deal with the interconnected issues of homeland, heritage and coexistence. In the interview that follows, she talks about her experience and how Cyprus shaped her scientific and personal path.
1. What prompted you to apply for the RESILIENCE TNA scholarship and why was Cyprus, and in particular the “Agios Epiphanios” Cultural Academy, the right environment for your research?
I am always looking for new academic challenges, so when I saw the call for the RESILIENCE TNA fellowship and read the terms, I said “Why not?” As the call was about religious traditions, and I am not exactly an expert on religions, I thought I would give it a try, submitting a proposal related to collective memory and religious diversity as a permanent challenge for European society, especially in relation to migration, a topic that has interested me for some time.
Why Cyprus? Mainly because I had been there before as a tourist and was impressed by the diversity of the island and the warmth of its people. Cyprus is a homeland not only for Cypriots born here, but also for the many communities (including Romanian) who found the island a place to progress, as well as for those who fled war zones. So I decided to apply with the intention of learning more about the history of Cyprus and getting to know its people and their stories.
2. How did your stay in Ayia Napa and at the "Agios Epiphanios" Cultural Academy enrich or change your understanding of Cyprus compared to your previous visits as a tourist?
My collaboration with the Cultural Academy “Agios Epiphanios” was excellent and offered me direct contact with people who experience faith and use it as a tool to help others. I was impressed by the programs of the Ayia Napa parish, their openness to different cultures and their sincere willingness to support people regardless of religious background.
During my stay, I was also able to learn many new things about the history of the island and visit important places, in order to understand the trauma of refugeeism and displacement. Cyprus is perhaps the only country in the world that has experienced internal forced migration, as a result of political decisions. And this is something I was completely unaware of when I visited it as a tourist. After all, many of the activities of the Cultural Academy “Agios Epiphanios”, such as publications, exhibitions and educational activities, are related to these issues.
3. How did the Cypriot context help you to meaningfully approach the key themes of your research, for example collective memory, identity and migration?
Cyprus is a country with borders within its territory and a traumatic recent past, which needs the support of international organizations to restore its identity. At the same time, it is a country that stands firm and proudly affirms its role in the history of Christianity, as a place blessed by its proximity to the Holy Land and as a land chosen by the first apostles to spread the Word.
The way a community relates to its past involves connectivity, storage, retrieval, transmission and (re)interpretation. When stable practices of memory are centered on texts, images and rituals, they contribute to the formation of a pattern that becomes decisive for the identity of the community. I saw this during my collaboration with the Academy, through its orientation to promote the cultural and religious heritage of Cyprus and its activities.
Cypriot identity is deeply connected to religion. Every day I saw people coming to church. After all, the headquarters, offices and library of the Academy are located within the medieval monastery of Ayia Napa, where the homonymous church is also located. Especially on Sundays, the churches were full of people participating in the service and taking care of each other and those in need.
In the parish of Ayia Napa, I saw people from different parts of the world, of different religions, forming a unique, wonderful community. Everyone was welcome and their needs were met. What politics failed to solve, the parish succeeded in: immigrants maintain their cultural identity, but also become part of the community.
As I have been working on issues of philosophy of culture, Indian studies and interwar history in recent years, the questions of what homeland and world mean have always been on my mind. My experience in Cyprus will certainly help me approach basic concepts of belonging and a shared sense of “being at home” in the world.
4. What substantive conclusions emerged from your contacts with local communities, clergy and other people you met during your fellowship?
Cyprus is perhaps the best place to study the historical, contemporary, socio-cultural and political-economic conditions of coexistence in a globalized, interconnected Europe.
I am particularly grateful to the collaborators of the “Agios Epiphanios” Cultural Academy, to the priests of the Ayia Napa parish, and to all those who were willing to speak with me and enrich my understanding of cultural identity, faith, and the meaning of “home” in our complex world.
After my stay there, I realize that Cyprus is a country with a complex history of displacement, division and deep-rooted religious tradition. But I also learned that Cyprus is a country where everyone is welcome, respected and encouraged to find their own space and actively participate in shaping a better future for all.
5. How has Cyprus' history of displacement and division influenced your understanding of the concept of homeland, resilience and "belonging", which are central themes of your research?
Terms such as cultural identity, belonging, migration or exile are interrelated and can together offer a better understanding of our fragmented world. The premises of my research found fertile ground in Cyprus. I was fortunate to explore and understand the country's religious tradition and, in particular, the role of faith in shaping people's receptivity towards others.
The history of displacement and refugeeism in Cyprus was something I was not aware of before this experience, but now it is a topic I can explore further. While studying the issue of the occupation of part of Cyprus, I easily observed cultural differences and transformations of many places of worship. The religious conversion of buildings as an element of integration and belonging is difficult to explain.
Cultural identity, as it is usually defined, refers to a person's sense of belonging to a particular culture. But what happens when someone is forced to leave their culture and live in a different environment? Where is home? And what does "home" mean?
I asked these questions to a refugee from Varosha, the ghost town, and he replied: "Home is where your family is."
In 1974, her family was displaced from Famagusta. They were forced to leave with only the clothes on their backs. They initially lived in tents and had to start over. What kept them going was the hope that perhaps one day they would return home. After many years, they understood that home is wherever the family was at that moment. Thus, the concept of “home” transformed from a specific place (home), to a feeling (togetherness).
“Home is where your family is.” As long as they were together, home was with them. Her parents never saw their home again. When the city was opened to visitors by the occupying authorities and she became a tour guide, she asked for permission to see her family home, but she was not allowed to. The house is very close to the “visiting zone,” but it remains inaccessible.
Her story deeply moved me. It is just one of many. Sad but also very powerful, a testament to resilience and the human ability to endure and start over again and again.
6. What advice would you give to future RESILIENCE TNA scholars and how can the “Agios Epiphanios” Cultural Academy support their work?
For those interested in the history of Cyprus, the Cultural Academy "Agios Epiphanios" is the ideal place for many reasons. There one can learn not only about the historical, cultural, religious, geopolitical and geostrategic role of Cyprus, as a bridge between East and West, but also about the importance of creating a space for dialogue between religions and cultures.
The Cyprus I knew as a tourist was beautiful — but insignificant compared to the Cyprus I discovered during my stay! I am deeply grateful to Dr. Christina Kakkura, her colleagues, the priests of the Ayia Napa parish and all the people who spoke with me. I am also grateful to the RESILIENCE TNA Fellowship for giving me the opportunity to explore and understand the religious tradition of Cyprus.
An interview in English follows.
Dr Mihaela Gligor, researcher at the "George Barițiu" History Institute of the Romanian Academy in Cluj-Napoca, spent two weeks at the "Saint Epiphanios" Cultural Academy in Ayia Napa as part of her RESILIENCE Transnational Access (TNA) Fellowship. Her project, centered on cultural memory, identity, and migration, found a compelling landscape in Cyprus, a country marked by a complex history of displacement, division, and deep-rooted religious tradition. During her stay, Dr. Gligor engaged with local communities, clergy, and sites of memory, gaining fresh insights into how people navigate the intertwined questions of home, heritage, and coexistence. In this interview, she reflects on her experience and the ways Cyprus shaped her scholarly and personal journey.
1. What motivated you to apply for a RESILIENCE TNA Fellowship, and why was Cyprus —particularly the “Saint Epiphanios” Cultural Academy— the right environment for your research?
I'm always in search of new academic challenges, so when I saw the Call for the RESILIENCE TNA Fellowship and read the conditions, I said "Why not?" As the Call was talking about religious traditions, and I am not quite a specialist in religions, I thought to give it a try and to apply with a topic related to cultural memory and religious diversity as a constant challenge for European society, especially when it comes to migration, as this is something that interests me for a while.
Why Cyprus? It was mainly because I was there before, as a tourist, and I was impressed by the diversity of the island and the warmth of its people. Cyprus is not only the home for the Cypriots born there, but also for the numerous communities (including Romanian) that found on the island a place to thrive, or for those that ran away from different conflict areas. So I applied with the thought to learn more about the history of Cyprus and to get to know its people and some of their stories.
2. How did your stay in Ayia Napa and at the “Saint Epiphanios” Cultural Academy transform or deepen your understanding of Cyprus compared to your earlier experiences as a visitor?
My stay at the “Saint Epiphanios” Cultural Academy in Ayia Napa was wonderful and offered me firsthand interactions with people who experience their faith and use it as a tool for helping others. I was deeply impressed by the programs offered by the members of the Ayia Napa parish, and their openness towards different cultures and their genuine desire to help people, no matter what their religious background.
During my stay there, I was also able to learn many new things about the history of the island and to visit several important places to understand the trauma of forceful displacement. Cyprus is, perhaps, the only country in the whole world which had an internal migration, forced by political decisions. And this was something I had no idea when coming as a tourist. In addition, many of the activities of the "Saint Epiphanios" Cultural Academy —publications, exhibitions, and educational activities— address these issues.
3. How did the Cypriot context help you engage with your key research themes of cultural memory, identity, and migration in a concrete way?
Cyprus is a country with borders inside its territory, and a traumatic recent past that needs the support of the international organizations in order to re-establish its identity, but also a country that stands firm and proudly reaffirms its role in the history of Christianity, as a land blessed by the proximity to the Holy Land and a place chosen by the first Apostles to spread the Word.
The way a community relates to the past involves different actions such as connectivity, storage, retrieval, transmission, and (re)interpretation. When consistent memory practices focus on texts, images, and rituals they result in the establishment and consolidation of a pattern that becomes relevant for the identity of that community. And I saw these during my stay at the "Saint Epiphanios" Cultural Academy in Ayia Napa, through its commitment to promoting Cyprus' cultural and religious heritage and through its activities.
The Cypriot identity is strongly linked to religion. Every day I could see people coming to the church. After all, the Academy is located within the premises of the medieval monastery of Ayia Napa, where the church of the same name is also found. Especially on Sundays, the churches were full of people living the rituals together and taking care of each other and of those in need.
As for Ayia Napa parish, I saw that people from different parts of the world living in Ayia Napa for the moment, sometimes belonging to different religions, were part of a unique and amazing community and all were welcomed to the church every day, and their needs were taken care of! What politics was unable to solve, this parish could! The immigrants were respected, they could keep their own identity and cultural background, but they could also be part of the community.
As in recent years I was working on different subjects, from philosophy of culture, Indian studies, interwar history, the topics on what home and the world mean for people in different regions were always in my mind. What I experienced in Cyprus would definitely help me in addressing some key concepts of belonging and the common feeling of being home in the world.
4. What essential insights emerged from your interactions with local communities, clergy, and others you met during your fellowship?
Cyprus is probably the best place to investigate the historical, contemporary, socio-cultural, and political-economic conditions of living together in a globalized, entangled Europe.
I am particularly grateful to the collaborators of the "Saint Epiphanios" Cultural Academy, to the priests from the Ayia Napa parish and to all the people who were willing to talk to me and to enrich my expectations regarding the cultural identity, faith and home in our entangled world. Talking to all of them made me realize that we have more in common than we usually think we have.
As a result of my stay there, I'm now aware that Cyprus is a country marked by a complex history of displacement, division, and deep-rooted religious tradition. But what I learned was that Cyprus is a country where everybody is welcomed, respected and helped to find his/her own place and encouraged to be actively involved in society and be part of the changes that can create a better future for all of us.
5. How did Cyprus' history of internal migration and division influence your understanding of belonging, resilience, and the very idea of "home," key themes that lie at the heart of your research?
Terms like cultural identity, belonging, immigration or exile are interconnected and together can offer a better understanding of our fractured world. The premises of my research found a fertile ground in Cyprus. I was lucky to explore and understand Cyprus' religious tradition and especially the role played by faith in shaping the openness of its people towards the others no matter what their religion might be.
Cyprus' history of displacement and refugeehood was something I was not quite aware of before this mobility, but now it is a subject I could further explore. Observing the matter of the occupation of Cyprus, I could easily notice the cultural differences and the transformations of many places of worship. It is difficult to explain religious conversions as elements of integration and belonging. As generally understood, cultural identity refers to a person's sense of belonging to a particular culture. But what happens when a person is forced to leave his/her culture and to live in a different environment? Where is home? And what home means?
I posed these questions to a refugee from Varosha, the ghost city of Famagusta, and she replied: "Home is where your family is." In 1974, her family was displaced from Varosha, they were forced to leave their house with only their clothes on, nothing else. They first lived in tents, and they had to start all over again. What kept them together was the thought that maybe one day they will go back to their home. But after many years passed, they understood that home is where their family is at that particular moment. So, the idea of "home" has transformed from the representation of a place (house) to that of a feeling (togetherness). "Home is where your family is." As long as they were together, their home was with them. Her parents never saw their house again. After the occupying authorities opened the city to visitors and she became a guide, she asked for their permission to see her parents' house. She was not allowed. The house is very close to the "open zone", but inaccessible.
Her story deeply impressed me. It's only one of many. It is a very sad one, but also a very powerful one, as it speaks about resilience and humans' ability to endure and start over again and again.
6. What advice would you give future RESILIENCE TNA fellows, and how can the “Saint Epiphanios” Cultural Academy help support their work?
For those interested in the history of Cyprus, the "Saint Epiphanios" Cultural Academy is the best place to be for so many reasons. There one can learn not only about Cyprus' historical, cultural, religious, geopolitical and geostrategic role as a bridge between East and West, but also about the importance of creating a space of dialogue between religions and cultures.
The Cyprus I knew, as a tourist, was beautiful, but insignificant compared to the Cyprus I could discover during my stay here! I am so grateful to Christina Kakkoura and the priests from the Ayia Napa parish and to all the people who were willing to talk to me. I am also grateful to RESILIENCE TNA Fellowship for giving me the opportunity to explore and understand Cyprus' religious tradition.
