On July 20, 2025, the world marked the 51st anniversary of the tragic Turkish invasion of Cyprus, a devastating event that displaced over 200,000 Greek Cypriots, left thousands dead or missing, and painfully divided the island to this day.
The military invasion, which followed the Athens junta and EOKA B’s coup against Archbishop Makarios, resulted in countless deaths, displacements, rapes, and the illegal occupation of 37% of the Republic of Cyprus, a wound that remains open.
Commemorations were held in Athens, Nicosia, and Greek and Cypriot communities worldwide, including Australia, Germany, and the United States, reminding all never to forget the violence, uprooting, and injustice of the Turkish occupation.
In the free part of Cyprus, the day was observed in silence, marked by sirens at 5:30 a.m. — the hour the invasion began. Meanwhile, the northern occupied area observes the day as “Liberation Day,” reflecting the ongoing division and political polarization.
At the historic Church of Saint George in Old Cairo, under the sacred guidance of Pope and Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria and All Africa, a Divine Liturgy was held, followed by a memorial prayer for the victims of the Cypriot tragedy.
Concelebrating with the Patriarch were Metropolitan Nikolaos of Ermoupolis, Abbot Metropolitan Sabbas of Nubia, and Bishop Stephanos of Ippon.
The Patriarch emphasized the collective memory with 51 tolls of the bell, one for each year of occupation, as a poignant echo of remembrance. “We do not forget, we do not forget, we do not forget our enslaved Cyprus,” Patriarch Theodore proclaimed, strengthening the vision of resilience and hope.
Moved by the occasion, Patriarch Theodore said: “With deep emotion and prayerful reverence, we hold here, at the spiritual beacon of the Alexandrian Throne, this sacred memorial service for the repose of the souls of our fallen brothers, victims of the barbaric invasion of July 1974 in our sacred and much-suffering Cyprus.
Fifty-one years have passed since that tragic day when peaceful Cyprus experienced the devastation of war, injustice, and violence.
The Turkish invasion spread death, uprooting, and occupation, leaving deep wounds that still bleed today.
And with the pulse of our hearts, we proclaim: WE DO NOT FORGET!
We honor those who sacrificed for homeland, freedom, and dignity. Their sacrifice is an enduring beacon and legacy for future generations.
The Alexandrian Church, with its martyr mission in Africa, does not forget.
We pray to our Protector, the Virgin Mary, and Saint George, patron of our army, for the vindication of Cyprus, its peaceful reunification, and restoration of its historic continuity.”
The Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus, Mrs. Poly Ioannou, also spoke, describing the tragic experience of an entire people who have endured and hoped for 51 years.
Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas / Source: ekkairo.org
