Are there Christian churches in Northern Cyprus

Yes, there are Christian churches in Northern Cyprus: some of them function as active places of worship (services are held, for example, at St. Andrew's Anglican Church in Kyrenia and at the Orthodox parish in Arapkoy), while many historic buildings are open as museums or tourist attractions (including the Archangel Michael Church with its icon museum and St. Mamas Church). At the Orthodox parish in Arapkoy, services are usually held on weekends: Saturday from 17:00 to 19:00 and Sunday from 10:00 to 13:00.

Below is a selection of churches and monasteries where either services are held or there is a museum/exhibition inside. In addition to the listed locations, Northern Cyprus has many closed or inactive churches that are architecturally interesting from the outside.

• Churches and Monasteries of Northern Cyprus
• Frequently Asked Questions

Churches and Monasteries of Northern Cyprus

• St. Andrew's Anglican Church in Kyrenia
• Russian Orthodox Church in the village of Arapkoy
• Archangel Michael Church in Kyrenia
• St. Mamas Church in Guzelyurt
• St. George Maronite Church in Kormakitis
• St. Fanourios Church
• St. Therissos Church
• Panagia Pergaminiotissa Church
• Monastery of Apostle Andrew in Karpas
• St. Barnabas Monastery with Icon Museum
• Christ Antiphonitis Church

St. Therissos Church.

St. Andrew's Anglican Church in Kyrenia

An active Anglican church with a parish. Services are held here, there is also the possibility of holding wedding ceremonies, and the parish has its own informational resource.

• Location
• Website

Russian Orthodox Church in the village of Arapkoy

The official name is the Parish of Saint Spyridon of Trimythous. It belongs to the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (a structure of parishes outside Russia). Typically, it operates on weekends: Saturday from 17:00 to 19:00, Sunday from 10:00 to 13:00.

• Location
• Website

Archangel Michael Church in Kyrenia

Not used as an active church, but houses an icon museum inside. Opening hours: 8:00 to 15:00.

• Location

St. Mamas Church in Guzelyurt

The church is inactive, but houses many old icons inside. To enter, visitors usually purchase a ticket to the nearby museum and, after viewing the exhibition, request a staff member to accompany them into the church.

• Location

St. George Maronite Church in Kormakitis

A fairly large building for a small village. Services are usually held on religious holidays, and at other times the church is often closed.

• Location

St. Fanourios Church

A small church with a nearby cave. Icons and candles are usually located in the cave, as the church itself is often closed.

• Location

St. Therissos Church

A church dedicated to the bishop of Karpasia, located along the road on the northern coast towards Cape Karpas. Usually, there is no staff inside, but icons and lit candles can be seen.

• Location

Panagia Pergaminiotissa Church

A small church next to the "Mini-Cyprus" park. Entry is usually organized through the park ticket: a staff member opens the door separately. Inside is an exhibition on the island's wildlife.

• Location

Monastery of Apostle Andrew in Karpas

One of the most famous Christian shrines in Northern Cyprus. According to tradition, Apostle Andrew visited this place in the 1st century, and after his prayer, a spring emerged from the rock, which is still venerated by pilgrims.

• Location

St. Barnabas Monastery with Icon Museum

Interesting for both pilgrims and tourists. A two-domed church dedicated to Saint Barnabas, the patron of Cyprus. Today, there is no monastic community, and the church operates as an icon museum. The former monastic rooms also house an archaeological exhibition with artifacts from the Neolithic period.

• Location

Christ Antiphonitis Church

The only eight-columned church on the island. Frescoes are preserved inside, with graffiti from various centuries nearby. It is mentioned that some frescoes were stolen after 1974 and sold on the art black market, but much can still be seen today, including the image of Christ Pantocrator in the dome.

• Location

Panagia Pergaminiotissa Church.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a dress code?

If the church is not officially active, a strict dress code is usually not required. However, in religious places, it is customary to dress respectfully, especially if services are taking place inside or staff are present.

How to visit Christian churches in Northern Cyprus?

Some locations are more convenient to reach by car, so save the points on a map in advance. In Kyrenia, you can reach the church by bus, and tours often go to the Monastery of Apostle Andrew in Karpas.

How to do it

1. Choose 3–5 places from the list and check their opening hours (especially if there is a museum inside the church).
2. Save the locations in your navigator and plan the route: some points are far from cities and harder to reach without a car.
3. If you plan several stops in a day, consider a transfer with a driver or a tour around Karpas.

If you need a multi-stop route, transfers with a Russian-speaking driver are often arranged. Announcements and driver recommendations can be found in Northern Cyprus community forums, for example in taxi discussion threads: taxi forum.