Archbishop George: We will not give our land to anyone

A commemorative music and dance program titled “Cyprus—Asia Minor: From Constantinople to Mesaoria” was held in Nicosia, dedicated to the historical parallels between the tragedies of the two regions. The event, held at the Cathedral of St. Barnabas the Apostle, was attended by House of Representatives Speaker Annita Dimitriou and Archbishop George of Cyprus. According to the Orthodoxia News Agency ( ), the event commemorated the 1,400th anniversary of the Akathist Hymn and the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the national anthem of the Republic of Cyprus.

In his speech, Archbishop George drew a historical parallel between the catastrophe in Asia Minor in 1922 and the Turkish occupation of northern Cyprus in 1974. The head of the Church of Cyprus emphasized that the people have no intention of resigning themselves to the loss of their ancestral lands. “No matter how many years pass or how many generations come and go, we will not give our land to anyone,” the primate declared.

The archbishop also noted the key role of the Republic of Cyprus as the sole legitimate state institution, which remains a vital instrument for protecting the rights and freedoms of the Cypriot people. According to him, preserving statehood and honoring the memory of the 1955–1959 struggle (EOKA) are a sacred duty to future generations. In conclusion, he urged people not to forget the lessons of the past so that they may respond with dignity to contemporary challenges and continue the struggle for the liberation of the island’s occupied territories.