Rizocarpaso: First marriage trapped after 27 years

The bell of the church of Agios Synesios, in occupied Rizokarpaso, will ring joyfully next Saturday, at 1800, for the wedding of a couple trapped, for the first time since 1991.

"Rizokarpaso is reviving," Nikos Falas, Chairman of the Karpasia Coordinating Committee, told KYPE, answering questions about the importance of this wedding.

He also said that a number of Karpasites have recently returned to the area and resettled. Answering a question, he said that these are about 15 families, who have repaired their homes and also started to work in Rizokarpaso professionally.

Mr. Falas gives the example of the three restaurants, owned by Greek Cypriots operating in the area, says that the restrictions imposed on fishermen for practicing the profession in the area have been relaxed, while those trapped are also allowed to cultivate fields under certain conditions.

The couple, Christos Achilleos who comes from the largest family of Rizokarpasites and is one of 13 brothers, along with his beloved Christina Chalkitis from Rhodes, will receive congratulations from 1900 at the center "Giannakis", in Agios Therissos.

According to Mr. Falas, 1991 was also the last year in which two marriages of caged people took place.

For Agios Synesios, he notes that this is the only church in the occupied area, which never stopped operating. The sacrament of marriage will be performed by Father Zacharias, the only priest who lives in Rizokarpaso.

Today, 410 Karpasites and Maronites live in the whole of Rizokarpaso.