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Cyprus News Agency - September 9, 1997

Archbishop Chrysostomos begins US tour

By James Delihas

New York, Sep 9 (CNA) -- The Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church of Cyprus, Archbishop Chrysostomos has begun a visit to the United States determined to plead the Cyprus cause in every quarter possible.

Over the next couple of weeks he is scheduled to meet with American dignitaries in New York, Washington and Boston and will attend a dinner honouring prominent Greek-American leaders. President Glafcos Clerides is expected to attend the dinner.

The Archbishop will also consecrate a Greek Orthodox chapel devoted to Ayios Themonianos in Houston, Texas.

The chapel, built by the US philanthropist and art collector Dominique De Menil, is a replica of the church of Ayios Themonianos located in the Turkish-occupied village of Lysi.

The Houston chapel will house two priceless 13th-century mosaics stolen from the Lysi church in 1979 by Turkish art smugglers for the purpose of selling them on the international black market.

Archbishop Chrysostomos, who arrived here over the weekend, conducted Sunday services at the Church of Saint Demetrios, in Astoria, the largest and oldest church of the Greek and Cypriot American community in the United States.

| Yesterday the Archbishop had a private meeting with Archbishop Spyridon, head of the Greek Orthodox Church in North and South America.

| He will also be the guest of honour at a reception to be given by Archbishop Spyridon this Wednesday.

On Wednesday, Archbishop Chrysostomos will also meet privately with Richard Holbrooke, President Clinton's emissary on Cyprus.

This will be the first of a series of meetings planned with American officials that include government and Congress leaders, in Washington.

Later this week, the Archbishop will discuss the Cyprus problem with the leadership of the American Jewish Congress and the organization's Chief Rabbi.

Archbishop Chrysostomos said one major purpose of his visit is to draw greater attention to the continuing human rights violations in Cyprus, the plight of the enclaved in the Karpass peninsula and the desperate situation in the occupied north, where churches continue to be desecrated and Cyprus' cultural heritage is being obliterated day after day.

Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal.

[ Cyprus News Agency - www.cyna.org.cy/ - September 9, 1997 ]