Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Orthodoxy & Islam
Almost 78% of Cypriots are Greek Orthodox, 18% are Muslims and the remaining 4% are
Maronite, Armenian Apostolic and other Christian denominations. Due to the island's divi-
sion, Muslims predominantly live in the North, while the Greek Orthodox live in the South.
The recent increase in asylum seekers from the Middle East, Africa and Central and
South Asia has increased the number of practising Muslims living in the Republic, particu-
larly in the centres of Larnaka, Nicosia and Lemesos, which all have mosques.
The presence of the Orthodox Church is ingrained in both politics and daily life in the
South, with the Cypriot year centred on the festivals, celebrations and Saints days of the
Orthodox calendar. Sundays in particular are popular for visiting monasteries and the Byz-
antine churches in the Troödos Mountains.
In the North, Turkish Cypriots are mostly secular Sunni Muslims. While religion plays
an important part in Turkish Cypriot culture, the more conservative Islamic tradition prac-
tised elsewhere in the Middle East is not so obvious in Cyprus. Alcohol, for example, is
widely available and frequently consumed by Turkish Cypriots, and women dress far more
casually than their counterparts in other countries where Islam is the main religion.
Fast Facts
The sun shines 326 days a year on average.
The highest point is Mt Olympus at 1952m.
Cyprus is an ophiolite that rose from the sea 20 million years ago.
