The Religious Leaders of Cyprus in a joint statement condemn the use of the grounds of the Armenian Monastery of St Magar for a live techno party on March 20th 2021, which was uploaded on YouTube on 7 April 2021. Sourp Magar Monastery is located in Halefka in the Pentadaktylos mountain range in Cyprus.
In the statement the Religious Leaders of Cyprus condemn this unfortunate act and any misuse, disrespect and desecration of places of worship and cemeteries in Cyprus, irrespective of intention, religion, dogma and denomination.
The Religious Leaders reiterate their request that all places of worship and cemeteries, in use or not, are protected against vandalism, misuse and desecration.
“Disrespecting places of worship and cemeteries creates pain, nurtures mistrust and becomes an obstacle to peaceful coexistence”, the statement says.
According to the statement the live techno party was organised by an event-planning group, that apparently organises and broadcasts electronic music events at entertainment venues, including historical and cultural locations. The event was recorded and uploaded on YouTube on 7 April 2021.
Sourp Magar is an Armenian Monastery is an 11th century Monastery founded by the Coptic Orthodox Church in memory of Saint Makarios the hermit of Alexandria.
The Monastery was transferred to the Armenian Community in Cyprus during the15th century and has belonged to and has been intrinsically linked to the community ever since.
St Magar Monastery has been left uncared for since 1974 and is in dire need of immediate protection, renovations and full restoration.
It is the most important place of worship and pilgrimage for the Armenian community of Cyprus and the only Armenian Monastery in Cyprus.
Cyprus has been occupied since the 1974 illegal Turkish invasion.
(CNA)