Auditor General warns against illegal monastery construction in Ayia Napa

Cyprus’s Auditor General, Andreas Papaconstantinou, issued a formal warning on October 27, 2026, regarding the unauthorized construction of a monastery and a shelter for abuse victims in the Ayia Napa municipality. The project, initiated by the Holy Metropolis of Constantia and Ammochostos, is currently in an advanced state of construction despite lacking any legal permits. The Audit Office has cautioned the Council of Ministers against granting a retroactive planning derogation for the facility.

The development site is located within a protected Natura 2000 area at Cape Greco, which includes a Special Area of Conservation and a Special Protection Area. According to the Audit Office, approving the project would violate the EU Habitats Directive and national law (153(I)/2003) while setting a dangerous precedent for the legalization of illegal structures. The location is subject to strict landscape protection regulations under the local development plan for Paralimni, Ayia Napa, and Deryneia, which prohibits such developments.

Following the Audit Office's intervention, further developments are anticipated. A meeting is scheduled for October 30, 2026, where the minutes of a previous session held on October 16 regarding the status of the project are expected to be ratified, potentially shaping the government's response to the ongoing breach of regulations.