Latins of Cyprus_EN

THE LATINS OF CYPRUS 21 l Saint Elisabeth’s church in Kyrenia. l The interior of the church of Our Lady of Graces in Larnaka, which is famous for its acoustics. It is worth mentioning that Mass is held also at the Orthodox churches of Agia Kyriaki in Pafos and Saint Demetrius in Polis Chrysochou, since 1987 and 2006, respectively, after the kind permission of the former Bishop of Pafos Chrysostomos, now Archbishop Chrysostomos II and Head of the Church of Cyprus. Also, in 2013 the Orthodox church of Archangel Michael in Paralimni was kindly granted by the Bishop of Constantia-Famagusta Vasilios. Masses are also held in Pissouri (since 1996) and Ayia Napa (since 1997). Also, the Sisters of the Order of Our Lady of Perpetual Help of Sri Lanka have a small convent next to the Pafos Gate in Nicosia since 2003. Finally, there are Roman Catholic churches in the buffer zone and the Sovereign Base Areas; these churches do not fall within the jurisdiction of the Vicariate. The following Latin churches are located in the occupied areas: • In Kyrenia there is the church of Saint Elisabeth of Hungary (1907). As of 1932, Mass is celebrated regularly by Nicosia’s Latin priests. • In Famagusta there are the Maronite church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (1885, re-built in 1900), which Franciscan priests used to officiate, as well as the Terra Santa School chapel (1960). Both churches are located within the fenced area of Varosha and are not accessible because they are under military occupation by Turkey. • In Xeros there was a small chapel dedicated to Saint Barbara (1930). It was demolished by the Turkish occupation regime in 1975 and a roundabout was constructed in its place. • In Kontea there is Saint Anthony’s chapel (1910), which was built and used by the known Lapierre family. Unfortunately, today it is in a pitiful state. • As of 2015, Mass is celebrated regularly at Saint George’s Orthodox chapel of Salamis in occupied Famagusta by Nicosia’s Latin priests.