The building of the Church of Cyprus in Brussels was closed after 12 years, following a relevant decision of the Holy Synod.
According to the same decision, the building will be given to the Ecumenical Patriarchate for its own use.
SigmaLive spoke to church sources who explained that it had been decided to give it to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, but that the status of the agreement was pending.
As we were told, it will be decided whether it will be given as a transfer or as a whole property or only for the use of the building.
The Office of the Representation of the Church of Cyprus in the European Union was established by a decision of the Holy Synod of the Church of Cyprus in 2007.
It was housed in a privately owned listed building in Brussels in Ambiorix Square 2. The building, in the past, for a number of years housed the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Cyprus to the European Union.
The history of the office and the goals of the Church of Cyprus
The aim of the office was to promote the Cyprus problem in the European Union, to inform about the theft of thousands of Byzantine icons from the occupied territories and the peaceful cooperation of the peoples of Europe.
On March 18, 2009 the Office was inaugurated by the Archbishop of Cyprus Chrysostomos II.
The inauguration will be attended by Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou, European Commissioner for Health Androula Vassiliou, Vice President of the European Parliament Mario Mauro and Cypriot MEPs from Cyprus and Greece.
The Office of the Representation of the Church of Cyprus in the EU aimed at promoting the ongoing illegal occupation by the Turkish troops of the places of worship and other Christian monuments located in the northern part of the Republic of Cyprus, as well as informing them about the ongoing and looting of these monuments by the occupying Turkish army and the illegal pseudo-state.
Another goal is to inform about the theft and illegal export of more than 50 thousand Byzantine icons, Byzantine frescoes and other Byzantine relics from the places of worship, where they were until July 1974. Many of them were found in European and other post-democratic through coordinated efforts have been repatriated.
The Representation of the Church of Cyprus monitored all issues related to the activities, research and developments of the European Union and that were of interest to the Church, with the aim of making proposals and suggestions to the competent European and other authorities.
The Delegation took part in the dialogue for peace, reconciliation and cooperation of the peoples of Europe. Another goal was to develop relations between Church Representatives, religious organizations, NGOs and other Civil Society representatives active in the European Union.