Figure 1.--Here we see a a GreeknOrthodox baptism ceremont at the Trooditissa Monastery in 1966. The Monastery was founded after the period of iconoclasm, but the early buildings have not survived. It was built at an altitude of 1,300m (4,265 feet) along the southern slopes of the Troodos Mountains. We see two babies being baptised surrounded by their families.

Cyprus as part of the Byzantine Empire was Christian--what became Greek Orthodox as it fell in the sphere of the Eastern Empire. Very early in the Islamic era, the Arabbs attacked Cyprus, very quickly developing nautical skills. For several centuries the island was conquered and lost by Arabs abnd Byanbtines,. There were varying levels of tolration, especailly while conflict was in progress, but Cypress remained primarily Christian. Also the Roman Catholic era meant issues with Greek Orthodoc Christians. The first Arab attack was early in the Islasmic Era (740). The Crusaders targeted Sicily (12th century). This ushered in a period of uncontested Chrtistian control firmly etrablisging the island's Christian identity. The Ottomans invaded and conquered the island (1570). Resistance was treated with great cruely and there was mass murder of Christians during the invasion, but there were no forced conversions. The Ottomons ruled the island until the Suez Canal was opened (1869). The British then took and interest in Cyprus and under the terms of the Convention of Constantinople, control of the island was transferred to Britain. The British offered security to both religious communities. After World War II, the British rathervrekluctantloy granted independence to Cyprus as part of the decolonization pricess (1960). Without Ottoman or British control, the majority Greek Cypriot population was in control for the first time. This eventully led to an invasion of the island by Turkish troops (1974). This led to the —partition of the island and the establishment of a de facto Turkish Cypriot state in the northern third of the country (1975). The Turkish Cypriot state made a unilateral declaration of independence (1983), creating the Republic of Northern Cyprus. Religon on Cyprus today is largely a matter of nationality. Christians make up the great majority of the Cypriot population (nearly 80 percent). They are mostly Greek Orthodox, but other denominations include the Armenian Church in Cyprus, Maronite, Roman Catholicism, and Protestants. Most Greek Cypriots are members of the Autocephalous Greek Orthodox Church of Cyprus (Church of Cyprus). Religious onservation is primarily a cultural mtter. Regular church attendance is still strong among the elderly. As in mostb of Eurooe, fewer people today appear to believe in God. It is the older Cypriots that organising the religious duties of the family. Islam makes up most of the non-Christians, primarily Sufi Islam (nearly 20 percent). The Muslims are primarily Turkish. Religious observation seem stronges among Muslims, although sone sources sathat rekligiious belief is decling among young people. There are very small numbers of Hindus, Jews, and other religious communities. Cyprus was a rare place in Europe where Jews were not decimated by the NAZIs as unlike Cretae, the island remained in British hands throughout the War.

Created: 8:09 PM 1/15/2017
Last updated: 7:59 PM 8/9/2023