Event Updates for September

Bitter lemons
The house that Lawrence Durrell bought in Bellapais during the nineteen fifties, and called Bitter Lemons after publication of his 1957 retrospective of the same name, will open its doors to the public on Thursday September 3rd for guided tours that will run every day except Sunday until September 29th. Opening times are between 11.30 and 1pm.
There will be a talk on the life of Lawrence Durrell that gives a perspective to his life while he was resident on the island.
The tours cost 15TL per person, refreshments will be available and in order to attend a tour, be at the door of Bitter Lemons at 11.30 on a tour day to meet Matthew Shorock who will be the guide.

Carmina Burana
A reminder that Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana" will be performed in Kyrenia Amphitheatre on Wednesday 2nd and Thursday 3rd September. This will be a truly memorable musical treat and even those who do not think they know the music will instantly recognise some of the pieces as they have been used in many TV advertisements. Most particularly for Old Spice aftershave.
150 musicians, choristers and soloists from Germany, Turkey and North Cyprus will be performing in the concerts that start at 8pm. Tickets cost 20TL each and are available from Deniz Plaza shops and Iktisat bank.

Tatlisu Intl. Carob Festival
Planning for the fourth International Carob festival at Tatlisu is well underway and it is due to run from 21st September to 27th. It is hoped that it will be a truly international affair with anyone wishing to play a part being made welcome irrespective of nationality.
There will be a parade at 7pm on the first day, led by an Ottoman style military band and the official opening ceremony conducted by the Prime Ministeer Dervish Eroglu will be held at 7.30pm. Throughout the festival there will be stands the town centre selling a variety of goods and gifts. There will also be exhibitions by folk dancing teams, kite flying competition, Judo and Karate performances, football and wrestling on the beach. So lots of fun for everybody.

Fund Raising Event - Kyrenia

"The Nuremburg Teachers' Union Choir will be giving two fund raising concerts at the Kyrenia Amphitheatre on September 2nd and 3rd. They will be joined by members of the Cyprus Art School and both ensembles will support Izmir's Aegean Philharmonic Orchestra in performing Carl Orff's cantata Carmina Burana.
This will give young classical performers from the TRNC an opportunity to share the stage with a leading international vocalists. Funds raised by both performances will be donated to the Cyprus Turkish Orthopedic Disabled Association and the Ozev Special Education School and rehabilitation Centre.
Tickets cost 25TL and are available from branches of Deniz Plaza and Kyrenia Municipality".

4* Green Holiday Village | Kyrenia

Nestled between the gentle slopes of Kyrenia's Five-Finger mountain range and the crystal clear waters of the Mediterranean lies the Green Holiday Village in an utterly tranquil setting. This quaint hotel complex is ideally situated in Alsancak, minutes from beautiful sandy beaches which Kyrenia is famous for and coupled with the added bonus of being within walking distance from the ancient ruins of the Kingdom of Lambousa, this complex is ideal for families and history buffs alike. The management are also proud to be running the island’s first and only unique eco-friendly establishment.
The Green Holiday Village offers a choice of bungalows or hotel rooms with air-conditioning and either a private balcony or terrace coming as standard. All rooms have a pool view with sea views available on request. With easy access to regular public bus services, the delightful Kyrenia harbour, with its multitude of dining and day/night time activities is just a short ride away.
The Green Holiday Village restaurant is colourful, vibrant and has a great atmosphere. Here guests will be able to sample both local and international cuisine in a wonderful surrounding – good food and dedicated staff will ensure every meal is delightful.
Entertainment includes regular barbeque parties, dancing, live music, as well as Cypriot Nights and pool parties to guarantee guests unforgettable memories. Available facilities comprise of a sauna (Fin Bath), massage, fitness centre and a large outdoor swimming pool with pool bar, where quality of service is guaranteed.
The Green Holiday Village is perfect for families looking for great value and everyone else looking for a good base from where to explore North Cyprus.

Green Holiday Village is available from Cyprus Premier from £359 per person for 7 nights on bed & breakfast basis. Price includes return flights, accommodation, return transfers and local representative services and is based on 2 adults sharing. For more information call 08714 266 888 and speak to your friendly holiday advisor or click online at http://www.cypruspremier.com/.

St. Barnabas - Patron Saint of Cyprus

Standing on a slight rise and overlooking the huge necropolis of Salamis is the twin-domed church dedicated to St. Barnabas, patron saint of Cyprus. This church, now used as an icon museum with the ancillary monks’ cells housing an impressive collection of Cypriot artefacts dating from the 7thC BC to the 18thC AD, still retains an air of sanctity and peace. Somewhat illogically on an island of mixed religious beliefs it remains a place of pilgrimage for both Muslim and Christian. Maybe this can be explained by the simple fact that Cyprus is an island where cultures and creeds have crossed, intermingled, blended, and divided over a period far in excess of the previous two thousand years, and each successive belief takes with it some vestige of the one they have left behind. The cultures that worshipped the moon and stars, gave way to those that worshipped pagan idols. These in turn were superseded by faiths that believed in an Almighty Creator and by the time the Romans gained power over the island there was a strong following of Judaism.
Barnabas was a Jew from Salamis who travelled to the Holy Land to study law and while there he met the apostle Paul and was converted to Christianity. On returning to Cyprus, (pertinent Bible references: Acts 4: 36-37, & Acts 13: 1-5) he preached the teachings of Jesus Christ and in 61AD was martyred by his fellow Jews. His death by stoning is the stuff of which legends are made, and traditionally it is accepted that his companion John Mark and other followers hid his body in a secret tomb, where it was destined to remain undisturbed for the next 400 years. That tomb was part of the Salamis necropolis and lay undiscovered until the 5th C AD.
When the tomb was revealed to Bishop Anthemios circa 480AD, with the body of Barnabas holding an illuminated Gospel of St. Matthew, the Bishop, head of the Cyprus church considered this was enough of a miracle to justify his request to Zeno, the Byzantine Emperor, the right to autocephalous status and with it all the benefits of self-governorship. For example revenues accrued in Cyprus would remain on the island rather than be transferred to the See of Antioch. The request was granted and the Orthodox Church of Cyprus took its place in the hierarchy of the Christian churches and has its own Patriarch. Barnabas was canonized and created the Patron Saint of the island. It is an icon of Barnabas, holding St. Matthew’s gospel that is placed in the backrest of the Bishop’s chair, though regrettably there are now few remaining in those churches of Northern Cyprus that are open to the public. A rather quirky patronage for which Barnabas is responsible, is that he protects against hailstorms!
The original Byzantine church crumbled over the succeeding years and was replaced in the 18thC by the present structure. Originally built with three domes, the minimal foundations at the apse end subsided in soft soil with the resulting collapse of one dome and the apse. The repairs that were carried out effectively shortened the nave of the church and did not replace the third dome, giving the church a rather squat and square appearance. The walls of the original apse can still be seen at the eastern end.
Very close to the church is a 19th century small chapel/mausoleum erected over the tomb site and visitors flock to pay their respects most especially on St. Barnabas’s feast day of June 11th.