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A Divine Liturgy will be held on July 16 and 17 at the chapel of Agia Marina, located in the United Nations buffer zone near the occupied beach of Deryneia, local officials said.
The Municipality of Paralimni–Deryneia announced it had secured permission from the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) to hold the annual service at the small Byzantine-era chapel, which lies in an area normally off-limits to civilians.
Vespers will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 16. The Divine Liturgy will follow at 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 17, with access to the site open to worshippers until 11:30 a.m.
The chapel, which holds religious and cultural significance for many Greek Cypriots, is located just meters from territory under Turkish military control since the island’s division in 1974. Events like this have been permitted in recent years under strict coordination with the United Nations, offering rare civilian access to restricted areas.
Visitors must use private vehicles and are urged to follow all instructions from UN peacekeepers, as well as posted signage, to ensure safe and orderly access to the site, the municipality said.
