The Municipal Council of Paphos, in yesterday's session with the votes of the Mayor and the majority of the Municipal Council, decided to forward the application of the Holy Metropolis of Paphos to the Council for the Study of Derogations for exceptional licensing of the Cathedral in the Public Garden.
The municipal team of AKEL reiterated its opposition to the construction of a Cathedral in the Public Garden, and as mentioned in a relevant announcement, “as AKEL we recognize the right of the Holy Diocese of Paphos to build a Cathedral to serve the worship needs of the faithful, however we could not consent to the construction of the Temple inside the Public Garden, since this development is not in line with the surrounding area, the urban and architectural features of the historical core of our city “.
In addition, adds AKEL, the Public Garden is the only green lung in the city center, while as recorded in the relevant report of the Department of Environment, which was unified by the Municipal Council, the construction of such a building will significantly affect the environment.
It is for this reason, he reminds, that the competent department, set as a necessary condition for the licensing of the church the drastic reduction of the area for both the interior and the exterior, since it causes “disturbance in the landscape”. We also note that the Department of Environment does not “recommend the implementation of the project as it is unless the above conditions are met.”
It is noted that so far the applicants have not secured the views of the Aesthetic Control Committee on the projects they have submitted.
In addition, AKEL reminds that in the past institutions such as ETEK, the Council for the Study of Deviations, the Department of Urban Planning and Housing were based on scientific criteria against the construction of a church in the Public Garden, the announcement emphasizes.
Citizens' reactions
On Social Media, there were reactions to this decision of the Paphos Municipal Council, with great acceptance by citizens.
“For the umpteenth time, the Municipal Council of Paphos proved to be inferior to the circumstances. For the second time, with 12 votes in favor, 7 votes against and 1 abstention, he supported the construction of a Temple in the Public Garden of the city. To be precise, it was decided to send a positive opinion from the Local Authority to the Deviation Study Council on the plans of the Diocese. Today there was no need for a priesthood to intervene, as for the first time. The Municipal Council was obedient … “, wrote on his personal Facebook account, the well-known activist, Orestis Matsas.
“How lucky we Paphites are to have such a mayor! On the one hand, there are academic pillars (Harvard and it does not come together) that will raise the academic level of our people and not only on the other hand, a temple in the garden in 2022! Storm in the skull! “We hope that in Nicosia they will be told to stop!”, Wrote the also well-known activist, Anna Tselepou.
