Eastern Orthodox Christianity
The overwhelming majority of the people living in the Republic of Cyprus are members of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus. Rituals, symbols and customs are mostly similar to the ones observed in Greece, but there are also local peculiarities; for example, particular saints (such as Apostle Varnavas or St. Mamas) are held in highly esteem by the local population. The Church has historically identified itself with the national aspirations of the Greek Cypriots and hence adherence to Orthodoxy is also to a degree equated with belonging to the Greek Cypriot community (a local version of ethnodoxy). The Church has historically capitalized on its role to preserve its prestige within local society.
30 April 2013 Victor Roudometof
