Religion in Cyprus
Religion in the controlled areas of the Republic of Cyprus can be broken down as follows:
- Orthodox Christians 89.1%
- Catholic 2.9%
- Protestant or Anglican 2%
- Maronite, Armenian 1.4%
- Islam 1.1%
- Buddhist 1%
- Atheist or Unknown 2%
Most Greek Cypriots, which make up the majority of the population, are members of the Autocephalous Greek Orthodox Church. If you take the whole population of the Republic of Cyprus, over 73% are Christians. Turkish Cypriots who live in the occupied north of the island are officially Sunni Muslims. Apart from these large communities you will also find Baha’i, Jewish, Protestant, Anglican, Catholic, Maronite and Apostolic minorities living in Cyprus. The Greek Orthodox Church uses the Greek liturgy and is one of the oldest Eastern Orthodox autocephalous churches since achieving independence from the Patriarchate of Antioch in 431A.D. The first bishops to hold ministries in Cyprus were Apostle Lazarus and Barnabas after the resurrection of Christ. The Church of Cyprus is recognized by the ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople but retains its autonomy under its own archbishop. The founder of the Greek Orthodox Church in Cyprus is considered to be Apostle Barnabas and there are countless churches in every city and village, 67 monasteries and 16 Bishops who are ruled at this time, by the Archbishop Chrysostomos II. The Orthodox religion recognizes seven sacraments, namely baptism, confirmation, the Eucharist, matrimony, ordination, last rites and funerals.
Although there are many small denomination churches that have sprung up all over Cyprus below are the details of the larger congregations.
Greek Orthodox Churches
General information for Greek Orthodox churches throughout the island
Masses are held on:
Saturday: 16:30-17:30 (winter) / 18:30-19:15 (summer), Sunday: 06:15-09:15 (all year round)
The Russian Orthodox Churches
Agios Prokopios Church, Metochi Kykkou
Tel.: +357 97 691 509 (Father Serafim) c/o Diocese Tamasou
Russian Orthodox Church
Philanthropou Christou Church, in Zakaki (near new port)
Tel.: +357 25 327 307 / +357 99 107 725
Email: evidiakin@gmail.com
Website: http://www.rus-church-cy.info/ru/
The The Russian Orthodox Church
Agios Georgios Church (near St. George Hotel)
Tel.: +357 97 665 036 (Father Georgios)
c/o Diocese of Paphos
The Russian Orthodox Church- Church of Semistrelnaya
Alethriko Village
Tel.: +357 99 805 842
Website: www.xpam.name
The Russian Orthodox Church
Agios Nikolaos Church (summer)
Paralimni Fishing Shelter (Near Golden Coast Hotel)
Agios Panteleimon (winter)
Tel.: +357 99 822 012 (Father Aleksei)
C/o Diocese of Konstantias
Email: priest-aleksei@mail.ru
Website: www.hram-cyprus.com
Coptic Orthodox Churches
St Mary & Pope Athanasios Church (behind Agios Athanasios Cemetery)
Yangou Souroulla Street, 12
Tel.: +357 25 721 775 / +357 99 696 324
Website: www.copticcy.com
The Coptic Orthodox Church
Agios Minas Chapel
Xylofagou (near Xylofagou cemetery)
Tel.: +357 22 336 722 / +357 99 420 070 / +357 99 720 522 / +357 99 593 447
Coptic Orthodox Church
St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church
Exo Metochiou Street, 1, Aglantzia
Tel.: +357 99 420 070 / +357 99 720 522 (Father Zakharias)
Website: www.copticcy.com
The Coptic Orthodox Church
Agios Georgios Church
Kato Pervolia area, Pafos
Tel.: +357 25 721 775
Polis (Pafos District)
Armenian Churches
The Armenian compound in Nicosia features the Sourp Asdvadzadzin Armenian Church and the Ganchvor monastery. Armenians in Cyprus date back to 578AD and today reside in urban areas of Nicosia, Limassol and Larnaca.
Armenian Church (St. Mary)
Armenias 47, Akropolis
Tel.: +357 22 493 560, Fax: +357 22 492 750
Email: armprel@spidernet.com.cy
Armenian Church (St. Kevork)
Vasili Michaïlidi Street, 16
Tel.: +357 24 654 435 (Priest’s Residence) / +357 99 465 818
Armenian Church (St. Stefanos)
Armenikis Eklisias
c/o Tel.: +357 24 654 435 (Priest’s Residence) / +357 99 465 818
Catholic Churches
Most of the Catholics that live in Cyprus are Maronites (Eastern Rite Catholics) and fall under the worldwide Catholic Church under the Pope of Rome. The St. Charbel Maronite Catholic Church is located in Limassol.
Roman Catholic Church (Holy Cross)
Pyli Pafou, 1010 Lefkosia
Tel.: +357 22 662 132, Fax: +357 22 660 767
Email: holcross@logos.cy.net
Roman Catholic Masses
Agia Kyriaki / Chrysopolitissa Church
Kato Pafos
Tel.: +357 26 931 308, Fax: +357 26 953 459
Email: paphosparish@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.stpauls-catholic-parish-paphos.com/
Santa Maria delle Grazie Catholic Church
Terra Santa 8
Tel.: +357 24 642 858, Fax: +357 24 434 953
Email: sanctamaria@cytanet.com.cy
Catholic Church (St. Catherine)
Ierousalim, 2 & 28 Oktovriou, 259
Tel.: +357 25 362 946, Fax: +357 25 346 290
Anglican Churches
The Anglican Church of Cyprus falls under the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf and was established on the island in 1878. The Anglican Church of St Paul is in Nicosia and the St. Barnabas Church in Limassol.
Nicosia
Anglican Church (St. Paul)
Leoforos Vyronos
Tel.: +357 22 677 897, Tel. / Fax: +357 22 445 221 (office)
Email: stpauls@spidernet.com.cy
Website: www.st-pauls-nicosia.com
Limassol
Anglican Church (St. Barnabas)
Archiepiskopou Leontiou A’, 153A (opposite the Lemesos Old Hospital)
Tel.: +357 25 362 713 / +357 96 612 371 (c/o Rev Canon Derek G Smith)
Email: stbac@spidernet.com.cy
Website: www.stbarnabas-cyprus.com
Pissouri Village (at AgiosLazaros Church, near Pissouri amphitheatre):
Kato Paphos
Tel.: +357 26 953 044, Fax: +357 26 952 486
Email: anglicancofp@cytanet.com.cy
Website: www.paphosanglicanchurch.org.cy
http://www.churchweddingspaphos.com/
Agia Kyriaki / Chrysopolitissa Church
St Stephen’s Church
Tala Village, Pafos
c/o Tel.: +357 26 953 044 / +357 99 212 627 (Helen Smith), Fax: +357 26 952 486
Email: anglicancofp@cytanet.com.cy
Website: www.paphosanglicanchurch.org.cy
http://www.churchweddingspaphos.com
St. Luke’s Church
Prodromi Village
c/o Tel.: +357 26 953 044 / +357 26 322 628 / +357 99 212 627 (Helen Smith)
Email: anglicancofp@cytanet.com.cy
rwickens@cytanet.com.cy
Website: www.paphosanglicanchurch.org.cy
http://www.churchweddingspaphos.com/
Anglican Church (St. Helena)
Leoforos Gr. Afxentiou & Ag. Elenis
Tel.: +357 24 651 327 / +357 24 626 824 (10:00-12:00)
Email: archdeaconjohn@cypgulf.org
Website: www.sainthelenas.com
Maronite Churches
Panagia ton Chariton
Pyli Pafou, Agiou Marona, 8
Tel.: +357 22 670 434, Fax: +357 22 668 260
Website: http://maroniteparchy.org.cy/en/
Saint Maron
Agiou Marona 17, Anthoupolis
Tel.: +357 99 589 874, Fax: +357 22 720 049
St. Charbel Church
Moni Machaira, 3, 3020 Lemesos
Tel: +357 99 467 501
Agia Marina Church
Kato Polemidia
Tel.: +357 99 467 501
Maronite Church
Agia Kyriaki church, Pafos
Tel.: +357 99 467 501
The Maronite Church / St Joseph Church
Kilkis Street (Med High School), 1654 Larnaka
Tel.: +357 24 652 449
Muslim
Muslims make up around 25% of the Cypriot population which resulted from the Ottoman occupation of the island in 1570AD. In the unoccupied areas of Cyprus, Moslems worship at the Lala Mustafa Pasha in Famagusta and the Hala Sultan Tekke in Larnaca, the Arabahmet Mosque in Nicosia.
Muslim / Omeriye Mosque
Prayer: Friday: 12:30-13:30
Judaism
There has been a Jewish presence in Cyprus since the 3rd century BC. It is believed that today there are just under 2000 Jews living on the island and they worship at the Public menorah in Nicosia and the Synagogue in Larnaca.
Synagogue
At the Cyprus Jewish Community Centre
Diogenous 7B, 6020 Larnaka
P.O.Box 42461, 6534 Larnaka
Tel.: +357 24 828 770, Fax: +357 24 828 771
Website: www.chabadcyprus.com
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