In the occupied northern part of Cyprus, the Turkish police stopped the celebration of an
Orthodox Divine Liturgy in the monastery of St. Barnabas, at the burial site of the Apostle.

NIKOSIA (Levkosia), Aug. 2. The Turkish police burst into the monastery of St. Barnabas in
the northern (Turkish-controlled ) part of Cyprus, and stopped the festive services at the
tomb of the Apostle buried here, even though the UN representation had given its
authorization for holding the service.

Metropolitan Isaiah of Tamas and the abbot of the monastery, archimandrite Gabriel, were
roughly put out of the church, along with all the congregation. In the words of an eye
witness, when a tourist bus drove up to the church, the police stopped throwing the
Orthodox out, but as soon as the witnesses drove away, they resumed their use of force.

The Greeks were not allowed to remain even in the yard of the monastery, so that the
Liturgy could only be completed in the monastery of Ss. Gabriel and Marina, that is, in the
Greek part of the island, in the diocese of Larnaka.

Metropolitan Isaiah gave the following statement: "Yet again, we have come up against the
worst aspects of the Turkish occupation. Our human and religious rights are trampled
upon, we have been denied the right to serve in the churches that were built by our
ancestors. We were doing no one any harm, we were acting in accord with the UN, we had
been given authorization. We were praying together, people from both parts of Cyprus.
Yes, we as Orthodox must pray patiently for our persecutors. But it is time for them to
understand that we live in a democratic, European society, where the people's rights and
freedom are supposed to be respected".

Regions.Ru/Sedmitza .Ru

[Tr. by JRS]

Alexandr

I think there should be an outcry by Orthodox all over the world but especially those in Europe and a protest lodged in every country and to the Turkish government.
Stephanos I
Also the Vatican needs to be appealed to so they can make a formal protest.

Lord have mercy.

Save us O Lord, for we perish.

And to think that there are still those who wonder why and how anyone objects to the notion of Turkey (which is not a European country) in the European Union! I am not an ethnic Greek; I am Irish and live in Ireland - and I know a thing or two about Turkish abuse of Christians.

From the tyranny of the Hagarenes, deliver us, O Lord, and restore the reign of Christian Kings!

Fr. Serge

I hope that this invasion took place before the Anaphora so that there was no opportunity for desecration of the Holy Gifts.

Lord have mercy.

BOB

Lord of the Powers be with us, for in times of distress we have no other help but You.
Lord of the Powers, have mercy on us.