OUR COUNTRY IS A FAITH TOURISM PARADISE
It cannot be said that was have seriously dealt with faith tourism in Northern Cyprus in respect to it being a field of special interest. In this context, the cultural heritage of Northern Cyprus is a very rich country… this is a fact known by everyone… for some of us, this situation makes us seriously think, “How could all this richness fit into such a narrow are?”. .. but in fact , the answer to this question is simple: Northern Cyprus is very close to the cradle of civilisations, Anatolia and the Middle East and purely because of this fortune, it has been a spellbinding and attractive hub where many cultures have sheltered and passed through throughout history.
Hidden at the heart of this very rich cultural heritage, which turns our country into an open air museum, is the potential for our country to shake the world within the context of faith tourism. We cannot say that we have adequately brought this potential to the light of day and united and introduced it to the world. Plainly, this is one of our most significant misfortunes . the world has practically turned a blind eye to our disadvantaged country , which is a state that has been practically blessed by God with respect to faith tourism. The tourism sector will explode, the day we manage to take advantage of this blessing and opportunity and it will be a true locomotive in the seizing of our development, recognition and prosperity. The tracks, on which this locomotive will ride upon, will pass through stations, each of which will be magnificent temples of faith tourism. This is why we must no longer delay the laying of these tracks, which will bring these magical faith tourism stations to the surface. If you wish, let’s take a brief look at the historical pleaces we own, which are considered to be very holy with respect to Christianlty:
1- APOSTOLOS ANDREAS MONASTERY:
This is a renowned corner of our country which Andreas, who was one of the Apostles of the Prophet Jesus, founded , blessed and first stepped foot on. It is the exact spot, according to legend, where Andreas struck the ground with his sceptre, holy water gushed out and where this monastery is built on. Miracles relating to this monastery, located in the Karpaz peninsula have been recorded in literature. So much so that this place attracts the attention of intense crowds other than those that are Chiristian and seen as a place of votive offering
2- St.BARNABAS MONASTERY
This place holds an underground tomb of one of the Prophet Jesus’12 Apostles Barnabas , in which he is buried. It is still open to visitors today. Documents have been published relating to the remains of the saint being transferred to Istanbul. St.Barnabas is the only saint that Jesus was with whose grave is truly known. The graves of the other saints who were with the Prophet Jesus are unknown. If we could only call upon the Christian World saying “You can touch the grave of Saint Barnabas”, we could attract large crowds of visitors with the echoes of this voice
SAINT PAUL’S (PAVLOS) VISIT TO CYPRUS
Saint Paul, who was the promoter of Christianity and ensured the spread of this religion, twice visited Cyprus. The first place he stepped foot at, and gave a sermon to the public in Cyprus was in the city of Salamis. Various western documentaries have been made on the theme of “ St.Paul’s Footprints”. The city square in which Paul Addressed the public is still standing. Is it not time to call upon the Christian world and say ,”You should also tread upon the stones Paul walked on and breathe the same air”?
ST.HILARION CASTLE:
There is a cell in which one of the important philosophers of the Christian world who was also a saint, St.Hilarion lived and died in, and a chapel belonging to the 11th century at the castle. With respect to successful faith tourism we should also bring the religious characteristics of this very popular cultural heritage to the fore.
5-ST. MAMAS CHURCH:
The grave in a church of one of healing saints, Saint Mamas is located in Guzelyurt(Mourfu). St. Mamas is a saint accepted as much by the Catholic Church as it is by the Orthodox.
It is believed that the oil taken from his grave cures the deaf, but does this saint, posses any less quality than that of Saint Bernadette of Lourdes of the French and Fatima of the Portuguese?
Apart from what i have specified, the list of hundreds of very important Gothic churches, monasteries and sacred water fountains in our country are far too many to mention. These are all at the heart of our beautiful country. For examples which Middle Eastern country possesses Catholic cathedrals such as Selmiye , Haydarpasha and Lala Mustafa Pasha and Monasteries such as Bellapais? Which has the gothic churches that we have within the walled city of Magusa (Famagusta)?
Naturally,it is not the Chiritian world that has been neglected in such a promotional campaign. Today ,we have still not been able to open the Margo Farm Tomb and it is synagogue to Jewish visitors. There is no impediment in preventing us in converting the synagogue into a small museum and opening it to Jewish tourists. The world has not been adequately informed of the hundreds of valuable icons, religious frescoes and mosaics we possess. The place sacred to the Orthodox, Anfifonitis, Kanakaria and Panagia Theotokos Churches are also in our country. It cannot be said that we have been able to carry out the necessary propaganda regarding these. It sould be possible for us to allure the Orthodox Russians, Ukrainians and Bulgarians who constitute a large tourism potential in the world, to our country in droves because of our historical corners,
It is certain that the last temple in which the Hospitaller and Templar Knights, who were recently made renowned againe “Da Vinci Code”, carried out a secret ceremony in a place known as the “Twin Churches” in Magusa (Famagusta). It cannot be said that we have been able to benefit from these regarding tourism. While the world revelled in this film and novel, we should have swept into action and introduced the world to our village Zeytinlik(Templos), which takes it is name from the Templar Knights, and where mystical stones belonging to them are found.
Headed by Ay Marina Churche, there are also places that Maronites hold sacred in our country. It is worth remembering that the richest people in Lebanon, which is in our immediate vicinity, are the Maronites.
Than what’s to say of the Armenian Sourp Magar Monastery which was restored with personal donations made by Sultan Abdulmecit?
Some of the most important monasteries built in various countries in the name of the “Church fathers”, who are considered holy in the Christian world, are again found in our country. One of the most important of these is the Saint John Chrysostom Monastery in Gungor(Koutsoventis). The importance of this monastery is no less than the similar monasteries in South Cyprus which are flooded by tourists each year. How many Muslim tourists have we been able to tell until today , that one of the most entrusted holy relics of the Islamic World, the holy bread (Sakal-i- Serif) of the most respected and important person, the Prophet Muhammed, is for for example found in our country in the Arapahmet Mousque in Lefkosa(Nicosia) . We should encourage Muslims to see this temple and they holy relic.
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