Protests in Cyprus over the forced departure of monks from Saint Gerasimos Monastery

A peaceful protest took place on September 27, 2026, at the Exarchate of the Holy Sepulchre in Nicosia, Cyprus, to oppose the removal of monks from the Monastery of Abba Gerasimos in Jericho. Concerned supporters organized travel from Limassol to Nicosia to demand that the monastery continue its operations without interference.

Rodoula Papalambrianou, a supporter of the monastery, stated on September 28 that monks have already begun departing the premises. She noted that these instructions were conveyed orally, with no formal written documents or official decisions from the Holy Synod provided to the monastics. Participants in the protest submitted a memorandum to the Exarch of the Holy Sepulchre, Metropolitan Timotheos of Bostra, requesting it be delivered to the Patriarch and the Holy Synod. The memorandum asks for transparency regarding the future of the monastery and a peaceful resolution to the crisis.

While the monks have been instructed to relocate to other monasteries, the lack of written documentation has raised questions regarding the procedural validity of these actions. The current status remains uncertain as the public awaits formal clarification from church authorities.