Cyprus – Greek church agree to strengthen cooperation

The church of Cyprus and the church of Greece stressed here today their determination to maintain “the strong bonds and the brotherly relationship between them with a view to further their cooperation in all fields, religious, social, pastoral and national.”

A statement, issued by the church of Cyprus at the conclusion of a week-long official visit by the head of the Greek church Archbishop Christodoulos, also said that the church will assist, at international fora, initiatives by the governments in Cyprus and Greece aimed at a political settlement, saying this is imperative to help restore international law and order on the island, divided since Turkish troops invaded in 1974.

“This will be achieved through the withdrawal of the Turkish occupation troops, the return of refugees to their ancestral homes, the solution of the humanitarian issue of missing persons, the respect of human rights and the safeguard of the pillage cultural heritage in Turkish occupied Cyprus,” the statement added.

It notes the need to strengthen the national conscience of the Greeks and their cultural identify, pointing out that bilateral contact between the churches should be more systematic, in addition to joint action to support the Greek language and history.

The statement also said that cooperation must extend to issues relating to bioethics, the environment, human rights, immigration, youth, family, drugs, AIDS, women’s issues and other modern day concerns.

“Promoting Christian values and the Orthodox faith and truth as well as providing a social service is among the priorities and the duties of the leadership and their clergy,” the statement said.

The two archbishops believe, the statement concludes, that Greek Hellenism continues to adhere to his spiritual and national origins and values and believes strongly in a “just and viable solution in Cyprus that will truly reunite the country in a free, single, independent and democratic nation.”