Morphou, Monastery of Saint Mamas
Morphou was taken in the second phase of the invasion, in August 1974
The story
The Church of Saint Mamas is the main church of Morphou. Saint Mamas is considered the patron saint of the town, and his sarcophagus stands inside the church. In August 1974, in the second phase of the Turkish invasion, the Turkish army took the town, and the Greek Cypriots of Morphou became refugees. Since then it has been part of the north of the island, which the Republic of Cyprus does not control. But the Metropolis of Morphou still calls the church its cathedral and holds the liturgy here on certain days, for example on the saint’s day, 2 September 2023. In 2019 a reliquary stolen from here turned up at an auction in Germany, and it was returned to Cyprus.
Morphou was taken in the second phase of the invasion, in August 1974, that is, after Kyrenia, in the first phase, July 1974. According to a Hallouminati review, in July 2026 candidates were asked to put these in order: Kyrenia → Morphou → the unilateral declaration of the “TRNC” (15 November 1983) → the referendum on the Annan Plan (24 April 2004).
Visiting
The north of the island: show your passport at the checkpoint; EU citizens just need an ID card. The nearest crossing point from the south is Astromeritis – Zodia. For a car from the south, separate insurance is bought at the checkpoint. According to travel guides, the church works as an icon museum; opening hours and ticket price have not been checked.
Photos
Sources
- Δήμος Μόρφου — «Τουρκική Εισβολή» (second phase of the invasion, capture of Morphou; declaration of 15 November 1983)
- Δήμος Μόρφου — announcement by the Metropolis of Morphou on services in the cathedral of Saint Mamas, 1–2 September 2023 (patron saint of the town, the saint’s sarcophagus)
- Statement by the Cyprus Department of Antiquities (via PIO) on the return of the reliquary from the Church of Saint Mamas, May 2019 — reprinted by Archaeology Newsroom
- Hallouminati — chapter on 1974: July 2026 exam question on the order of events
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