Religion in Cyprus#Protestantism

{{main|Christianity in Cyprus}}

File:St. Lazarus Church in Larnaka, Cyprus.jpg]]

File:Yeroskipos3.jpg]]

{{main|Greek Orthodox Church of Cyprus}}

The largest and most important church in Cyprus, the Church of Cyprus, is an autocephalous Greek Orthodox Church within the Orthodox tradition using the Greek liturgy.{{cite encyclopedia|title=Cyprus: a country study|publisher=Federal Research Division, Library of Congress|location=Washington, D.C.|url=https://www.loc.gov/item/92036090/|last1=Meleagrou|first1=Eleni|date=1993|editor-last=Solsten|editor-first=Eric|edition=4th|pages=70, 72|isbn=0-8444-0752-6|oclc=27014039|postscript=. {{PD-notice}}|last2=Birol|first2=Yesilada|entry=Religion}} It is one of the oldest Eastern Orthodox autocephalous churches, having achieved independence from the Patriarchate of Antioch in 431 A.D.

{{cite web

| url = https://www.oikoumene.org/member-churches/church-of-cyprus

| title = Church of Cyprus

| date = n.d.

| website = World Council of Churches

| access-date = 2024-08-09

| quote = The Patriarchate of Antioch wanted to place the church under its jurisdiction, but the Council of Ephesus in 431, and later the emperor, recognised the autocephaly of the Church of Cyprus.

}}

According to tradition, the first bishops in Cyprus were the apostles Lazarus (see Church of Saint Lazarus, Larnaca) and Barnabas, the latter of whom is identified by the Book of Acts as a Cypriot Jew.{{Jewish Encyclopedia |no-prescript=1 |wstitle=Barnabas, Joses}}{{refn|{{Bibleverse|Acts|4:36}}}} The same book names Cyprus as a destination for many early Christians fleeing persecution.{{refn|{{Bibleverse|Acts|11:19}}}}{{bsn|date=August 2024|reason=No direct summarization of Bible verses per WP:RSPSCRIPTURE}}

The Church of Cyprus recognises the seniority and prestige of the ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople, while retaining complete administrative autonomy under its own archbishop. Seven sacraments are recognised: baptism in infancy, followed by confirmation with consecrated oil, penance, the Eucharist, matrimony, ordination, and unction in times of sickness or when near death.

Many examples of classical Christian architecture are located in Cyprus, along with tombs said to belong to Lazarus and Barnabas. Cyprus is a place where many New Testament biblical stories took place{{cn|date=August 2024}} and several miracles are held to have been performed.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

{{main|Armenians in Cyprus}}

{{Unreferenced section|date=August 2024}}

File:Armenian compound-Nicosia.jpg, featuring the Sourp Asdvadzadzin church]]

The presence of Armenians in Cyprus dates back to 578. Currently, Armenian-Cypriots maintain a notable presence of about 3,500 persons, mainly inhabiting the urban areas of Nicosia, Larnaca, and Limassol. Recently, some Armenian immigrants have settled Paphos.

The Armenian Prelature of Cyprus has had a continuous presence on the island since its establishment in 973 by Catholicos Khatchig I.

{{main|Catholic Church in Cyprus}}

File:St.Charbel Maronite Catholic Church-limassol,Cyprus.jpg]]

The Catholic Church in Cyprus is part of the worldwide Catholic Church under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome. According to the 2011 census, Catholics made up 2.9% of the population.{{cite report |author=Office of International Religious Freedom|author-link=International Religious Freedom Act of 1998#Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom and Office of International Religious Freedom |date=2022 |title=2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Cyprus|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-report-on-international-religious-freedom/cyprus/ |publisher=U.S. Department of State |access-date=2024-08-09}} A minority of Catholics in Cyprus are Maronites (adherents of one of the Eastern Rite Catholics). Of the 209,286 Cypriots counted in the 1891 census, 1,131 were Maronites.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

According to the 2011 census, Protestants made up 2% of the population of the government-controlled area.

The Church of England established a presence in Cyprus at the advent of the protectorate itself in 1878,{{cite book |last1=Melton |first1=J. Gordon |last2=Baumann |first2=Martin |title=Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices, 2nd Edition [6 volumes] |date=21 September 2010 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-1-59884-204-3 |page=843 |language=English}} initially under the Diocese of Gibraltar.

{{cite web

| url = https://www.cypgulf.org/the-diocese/

| title = The Anglican Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf: a brief history

| date = n.d.

| website = Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf

| access-date = 2024-08-09

| quote = When the British first arrived in Cyprus in 1878, responsibility for the Anglicans lay with the Bishop of Gibraltar, the Right Reverend Charles Sandford, for whom an important priority was advancing “mutual understanding between our Church and the Orthodox Churches of the East” (H. Knight, The Diocese of Gibraltar).

}}

In 1976, the Cypriot portion of the church became the Archdeaconry of Cyprus, within the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf. {{As of|2024}}, the jurisdiction is headed by Archdeacon Ven Christopher Futcher.

{{cite web

| url = https://www.cypgulf.org/cyprus-archdeaconry/

| title = Cyprus Archdeaconry

| date = n.d.

| website = Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf

| access-date = 2024-08-09

}}

Northern Cyprus is home to a Turkish Protestant minority; the Turkish-Speaking Protestant Association (TPSA) estimates the community's numbers to be 1,000. According to the TPSA, Protestants are under continual surveillance by North Cypriot police.{{cite report |author=Office of International Religious Freedom|author-link=International Religious Freedom Act of 1998#Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom and Office of International Religious Freedom |date=2022 |title=2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Cyprus |url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-report-on-international-religious-freedom/cyprus/area-administered-by-turkish-cypriots/ |publisher=U.S. Department of State |section=Area Administered by Turkish Cypriots |access-date=2024-08-08}}

{{mcn|date=August 2024}}

{{main|Islam in Cyprus}}

File:St. Nikolaos Mustafa- Pascha-Moschee C.jpg in Famagusta]]

Muslims make up about 1.8% of the population of the government-controlled area and around 25% of the population of the entire island. The island was conquered by the Ottoman General Lala Mustafa Pasha from the Venetians in 1570. From then until 1878, mainland Turks came to Cyprus as soldiers and administrators. Turkish Cypriots mainly adhere to the Sunni branch of Islam.

Sufism also plays an important role. Historically, Muslims were spread over the whole of Cyprus, but since the Turkish invasion in 1974 they have lived primarily in the north. Within the north there is also a small Ahmadi community.{{cite web | url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/eur44/028/2002/en/ | title=Members Of The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Dr Muhammed Jalal Shams, Osman Seker, Kubilay Çil: Prisoners of conscience for their religious beliefs | publisher=Amnesty International | date=June 5, 2002 | access-date=June 10, 2014 }}

Several important Islamic shrines and landmarks exist on the island, including:

• The Arabahmet Mosque in Nicosia (built in the 16th century)
• The Hala Sultan Tekke/Umm Haram Mosque in Larnaca (built in the 18th century)

{{main|Sikhism in Cyprus}}

There are about 13,280 or 1.1% Sikhs in Cyprus in 2021.{{Cite web |title=Religious Freedom Report Cyprus |url=https://acninternational.org/religiousfreedomreport/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Cyprus.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102220111/https://acninternational.org/religiousfreedomreport/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Cyprus.pdf |archive-date=2023-01-02 |website=acninternational.org}}{{cite web | url=http://www.thearda.com/internationaldata/index.asp | title=National Profiles }}

There were about 4,640 or 0.4% Hindus in Cyprus in 2015.{{cite web|url=https://www.thearda.com/internationaldata/countries/Country_64_2.asp|title=Cyprus, Religion And Social Profile|website=thearda.com}}

{{Main|Buddhism in the Middle East}}

{{Expand section|date=September 2015}}

According to the 2011 census, Buddhists made up about 1% of the population. Of these, almost none held Cypriot citizenship.

{{main|History of the Jews in Cyprus}}

File:Hanukkah sign Nicosia Republic of Cyprus.JPG in Nicosia]]

{{Expand section|date=June 2008}}

Jewish presence in Cyprus dates back to the 3rd century BC, after settling on the island, they established trade relations with other religious groups.{{cite web|url=http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/vjw/cyprus.html|title=Cyprus: Virtual Jewish History Tour|publisher=Jewish Virtual Library|access-date=February 21, 2013}} In 2022, there were approximately 6,000 Jewish people on the island, who were either permanent residents or citizens in Cyprus. There are active Synagogues in Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia, Paphos and Ayia Napa with dedicated Rabbis to each. All religious matters are handled by the Chief Rabbinate of Cyprus, headed by Chief Rabbi Arie Zeev Raskin.

Kyrenia Synagogue (Turkish: Girne Sinagogu) has been in operation since 2008 and affiliated with Chabad movement.{{Cite web |title=Girne Sinagogunda İlk Ahnasat Sefer Tora kutlaması |url=https://www.salom.com.tr/arsiv/haber/102984/girne-sinagogunda-ilk-ahnasat-sefer-tora-kutlamasi |access-date=2024-01-22 |website=Şalom Gazetesi |language=tr}} The synagogue functions as a Chabad house and the rabbi is the Chaim Hillel Azimov. In 2023 Azimov left Northern Cyprus due to fear of possible antisemitic attacks after the Hamas-Israel war.{{Cite web |last=Bektaş |first=Selda |date=2023-11-17 |title=Haham Azimov Ülkeyi Terk Etti |url=https://www.kibrisligazetesi.com/ozel-haber-ve-roportajlar/haham-azimov-ulkeyi-terk-etti/ |access-date=2024-01-22 |website=Kıbrıslı Gazetesi |language=tr}}

{{Expand section|date=September 2015}}

According to a 2011 estimate, in the Greek-Cypriot government-controlled area, 0.6% of the people consider themselves irreligious or atheist.

{{cite web|url= https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/cyprus/|title= Cyprus|date= 20 October 2021|website=The World Factbook|publisher=Central Intelligence Agency}}

In 2018, the Cyprus Humanist Association accused Cyprus' Ministry of Education of discrimination against atheists by promoting anti-atheist educational material through its official website.

{{cite news|author=Evie Andreou|title=Humanists slam education ministry's anti-atheist teaching materials|url=http://cyprus-mail.com/2018/01/13/humanists-slam-education-ministrys-anti-athiest-teaching-materials|url-status=dead|publisher=Cyprus Mail|date=13 January 2018|access-date=23 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502092843/http://cyprus-mail.com/2018/01/13/humanists-slam-education-ministrys-anti-athiest-teaching-materials|archive-date=2019-05-02}}

During the 37th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, the International Humanist Union listed Cyprus in their list of states accused of promoting hatred against atheists and humanists.

{{cite web|author= Elizabeth O'Casey|title=Actually, 'freedom from religion' is a human right, IHEU tells Vatican at the UN|url=http://iheu.org/actually-freedom-religion-human-right-iheu-tells-vatican-un/|date=2018-03-09|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109033606/https://humanists.international/2018/03/actually-freedom-religion-human-right-iheu-tells-vatican-un/|archive-date=2020-11-09|website=International Humanist and Ethical Union|access-date=23 April 2018}}

It's neither known how many percent of the population are atheists in the Turkish-Cypriot government-controlled area nor how they are treated in the northern part of the island.

In 2023, the country was scored 4 out of 4 for religious freedom by Freedom House, a U.S. government–affiliated body.{{Cite web |title=Cyprus: Freedom in the World 2022 Country Report |url=https://freedomhouse.org/country/cyprus/freedom-world/2022 |access-date=2024-08-09 |website=Freedom House |language=en}}

• Religion in Northern Cyprus

• [https://rabbinatecyprus.org/en Chief Rabbinate of Cyprus]
• [http://www.jewishcyprus.org Jewish Community of Cyprus]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Religion In Cyprus}}