Two 14th-century Byzantine icons repatriated to Cyprus

Two 14th-century Byzantine icons depicting the Evangelists Matthew and Mark have been successfully repatriated to Cyprus. The icons, originally from the Panayia church in Asinou, were illicitly removed following the 1974 Turkish invasion. Before the invasion, these religious artifacts had been transferred for safekeeping to the bishopric in Kyrenia, where they were subsequently stolen.

The recovery was confirmed by the bishopric of Morphou, which stated that the icons were traced to the United Kingdom. Ownership rights of the Church of Cyprus were legally recognized, leading to the return of the artifacts without financial compensation, as the owner did not seek payment. Key contributors to the successful repatriation include the antiquities department, police chief Themistos Arnaoutis, Interpol, and iconographer George Petrou.

This retrieval adds to ongoing efforts to recover religious treasures lost in 1974. Two related icons depicting the apostles Peter and Paul were previously returned from New York in 2007. Other works, including depictions of the Virgin Mary, St John the Baptist, and the Evangelists John and Luke, remain missing, and search efforts continue.