Two Byzantine Icons Stolen After 1974 Invasion Repatriated to Cyprus from UK

MORPHOU, CYPRUS — Two icons depicting the Evangelists Matthew and Mark have been returned to Cyprus after decades abroad. The icons originated from the Church of Panagia Forviotissa at Asinou and were moved to the Diocese of Kyrenia before the 1974 Turkish invasion, after which they were stolen.

The icons later were found in the United Kingdom, from where they were returned. Several specialists and officials contributed to the process, including art historians, church representatives, and legal experts. They were returned to the Diocese of Morphou without payment being required by the holder. 

The recovery adds to previous efforts to restore Cyprus’s displaced historical icons. Two icons from the same church, depicting the Apostles Peter and Paul, were returned from New York in 2007. Several other icons, including those depicting the Virgin Mary, John the Baptist, John the Theologian, and Luke are still missing. 

The return of the icons highlights the continuing efforts to recover religious and cultural objects lost from Cyprus during the years that followed the 1974 invasion. The Church emphasizes that the icons are not only valuable works of art but also objects connected to the island’s religious history and common memory. Their return restores an important part of Cyprus’s Byzantine heritage to the Orthodox community and the importance of preserving the island's traditions for future generations. 

Previously, the UOJ reported that the Wonderworking Kykkos Icon had been brought out in Cyprus.