It is announced that, following a request submitted through the United Nations to the occupation authorities, to celebrate the Divine Liturgy on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at the Church of Archangel Michael in the occupied town of Lefkoniko, this has been rejected.
The Church of the Archangel had been preserved with the financial assistance of the European Union, the local community, and the support and actions of the Technical Committee for Cultural Heritage and was handed over last July.
The church, a three-aisled basilica of the 12th century with later additions of the 15th and 19th centuries, preserves parts of frescoes of the 12th, 16th and 19th centuries.
The church was maintained by the Bicommunal Technical Committee for Cultural Affairs with the sponsorship of the European Commission and the mediation of UNDP/PFF and was handed over in October 2017.
Despite persistent requests for a divine service to be held, the occupation regime rejects them, blatantly violating the religious freedoms of the Greek Christian residents of Cyprus.
