Part of: LevantMENA10/40 Window
Discover
The identity of the nation
Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, located where Europe, Asia and the Middle East nearly touch. With about 1.2 million inhabitants and its capital in Nicosia, it is a nation small in territory but dense in history: Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Venetians, Ottomans and the British all passed through, and each left living marks on the language, architecture and faith.
It is a land of very ancient Christian roots. In 45 A.D., the apostles Paul and Barnabas landed on the island during the first missionary journey, and Cyprus became one of the first places in the world to have a ruler converted to the gospel. Barnabas, a native of the island, is venerated as founder of the Church of Cyprus, recognized as autocephalous since the Council of Ephesus in 431. Today the majority of the population follows Greek Orthodox Christianity.
The island, however, lives divided. Since 1974 Cyprus has been split: the south, the Republic of Cyprus, of Greek Christian majority and a member of the European Union, and the north, occupied, of Turkish Muslim majority. Nicosia remains Europe’s last divided capital, cut through by a line of control. The fracture is not only geographic: it marks families, memories and the coexistence between two peoples who share the same land.
Although the Christian faith is embedded in national identity, much of it is cultural and traditional, tied to the liturgical calendar and family belonging more than to a living personal walk. Communities of migrants and foreign workers are growing, and the Muslim presence in the north remains largely beyond the reach of the living gospel.
Cyprus is, at the same time, a place of deep apostolic heritage and real spiritual need: a natural bridge between continents, peoples and religions, called to rediscover the vigor of the faith it once received from the apostles themselves.
- Antiquity Inhabited since the Neolithic; colonized by Greeks and influenced by Phoenicians.
- 45 A.D. Paul and Barnabas preach on the island; Cyprus becomes one of the first territories with Christian government.
- 431 The Church of Cyprus is recognized as autocephalous at the Council of Ephesus.
- 1571 The Ottomans conquer the island, previously under Venetian rule.
- 1878 The United Kingdom takes over the administration of Cyprus; in 1925 it becomes a British colony.
- 1960 Independence from the United Kingdom; the Republic of Cyprus is born.
- 1974 A coup favoring union with Greece and a Turkish invasion; the island is divided and about 200,000 people are displaced.
- 1983 The occupied north unilaterally declares independence, recognized only by Turkey.
- 2004 The Republic of Cyprus joins the European Union.
- Today A nation of Orthodox Christian majority, still divided, seeking reconciliation.
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Greekofficial, spoken by the Greek Cypriot majority in the south
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Turkishofficial, spoken by the Turkish community in the north
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Englishwidely understood, a legacy of the British period
Cyprus is the easternmost island in the Mediterranean, situated between the southern coast of Anatolia and the Middle Eastern shoreline. The terrain combines two mountain ranges, the Pentadaktylos to the north and the Troodos massif to the south, separated by the central Mesaoria plain, where Nicosia lies.
Major cities
- NicosiaCapital, the only one in the world still divided by a line of control
- LimassolLargest port and economic hub, on the coast
- LarnacaMain international airport, a coastal city
- PaphosArchaeological sites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Climate and temperature
Halloumi
A semi-hard cheese made from goat's and sheep's milk, grilled or fried, a symbol of the island.
Souvla
Large chunks of meat on long skewers, slow-roasted over coals.
Kleftiko
Lamb marinated with garlic, lemon and herbs, slow-roasted wrapped in foil.
Meze
A sequence of many small dishes served over several hours, a feast-meal.
Sheftalia
Homemade sausage of ground meat with onion and parsley, grilled over coals.
Understand
Culture and spirituality
2a · The culture
Mediterranean hospitality
Welcoming visitors well is a matter of honor, with a full table and time set aside.
Faith and tradition intertwined
Orthodox identity shapes feasts, baptisms, weddings and the calendar of the year.
Life around the table
Meze and long shared meals are the heart of social life.
Memory of the division
The splitting of the island since 1974 is an open wound in the lives of many families.
Pride in Greek heritage
The Hellenic language, church and history are a source of identity in the south.
- Treating the island's division lightly It is a sensitive and painful topic for many families.
- Confusing Cypriots with Turks or Greeks There is a distinct Cypriot identity, separate from Greece and Turkey.
- Dismissing the Orthodox tradition Faith is embedded in the culture and deserves sincere respect.
- Rushing relationships Bonds are built over time, at the table and through shared life.
2b · The field
Areas of spiritual battle and cultural captivity to cover in prayer. Tap each point to understand:
The inherited faith is strong as an identity, but often distant from a living walk.
The rift between north and south fuels grudges and barriers between peoples.
The weight of ritual and custom can overshadow a personal encounter with Christ.
Prosperity and tourism shift the heart toward comfort and possessions.
The Turkish community of the north remains largely beyond the reach of the gospel.
Greek or Turkish identity can override unity in Christ.
Among young people, religious indifference and drifting from faith are on the rise.
The displacement and losses of 1974 left traumas still open.
Belonging to the church by heritage, without personal conversion, empties the faith.
The line that divides the island also divides trust between neighbors.
In the Republic of Cyprus, in the south, religious freedom is guaranteed and Christians live and worship freely. Orthodox Christianity is the majority faith and enjoys strong cultural and institutional support. Pressure on Christians is low.
Religious tensions are concentrated around the division of the island. In the occupied north, of Turkish Muslim majority, access to many historic churches and monasteries has been restricted since 1974, and several places of worship have been abandoned or had their use altered. Freedom of worship and the preservation of Christian heritage in the region remain points of concern.
More than open persecution, the spiritual challenge of Cyprus is faith turned into cultural habit: an ancient, established Christendom that needs to rediscover the personal and missionary vigor it received from the apostles.
The persecution score runs from 0 to 100: the higher it is, the greater the pressure on Christians.
Cyprus is a land of ancient Christendom, yet with real spiritual needs. The south, of Greek Orthodox majority, lives with a strongly cultural faith; the north, of Turkish Muslim majority, remains largely without access to the living gospel. Add to this the growing population of migrants and foreign workers. The picture calls for both renewal of the inherited faith and outreach to those who do not yet know it.
- 263K Unreached 19.8%
- 35K Minimally reached 2.6%
- 915K Superficially reached 68.9%
- 75K Partially reached 5.7%
- 40K Significantly reached 3%
- 3 Unreached 14.3%
- 4 Minimally reached 19%
- 8 Superficially reached 38.1%
- 4 Partially reached 19%
- 2 Significantly reached 9.5%
Source of people group data: Joshua Project (joshuaproject.net). Estimates, may vary.
Turkish Cypriot
Egyptian Arab
Greek Jew Frontier
Pontic Greek
Syrian Arab
Maronite Arab
Polish
Source: Joshua Project. Estimates, may vary.
Source: Joshua Project and Progress.Bible. Estimates, may vary.
Greek Official
Turkish Official
Pontic
Levantine Arabic
Cypriot Arabic
Pray
Intercede for this nation
Send and sustain
Not everyone goes, everyone takes part
Not everyone goes. Everyone takes part.
Behind every worker among these peoples stands a network of people who pray without ceasing, care for the family left behind, and faithfully sustain the work. Sending is mission too.
Start with your church: introduce this nation, adopt it in ongoing prayer, and walk alongside those God is raising up to go.
Go
Practical details for those who want to go
Local time
Cost of living
European standard, varies by city
Cost by city
Reference values (source: Numbeo). Confirm before traveling.
Practical points for those who go
- English helps a lot: a legacy of British rule, it is widely understood throughout the country.
- Respect the sensitivity of the division when talking about the north and south of the island.
- Value local hospitality: accepting food and time at the table opens doors.
- The currency is the euro in the south; pay attention to the rules for crossing between the two sides.
- Summer is very hot: plan activities and protection against sun and heat.