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Church · Ancient Monument

Church of Christ Antiphonitis

Kalograia, Kyrenia District · Late Byzantine Period; Middle Byzantine Period · In the area occupied by Turkey since 1974

Church of Christ Antiphonitis: a church in Kalograia, Kyrenia District, in the area occupied by Turkey since 1974. Declared an Ancient Monument in 1927.

Kyrenia District, about 35°20′ N, 33°38′ E

  • Other recorded site
  • Contours every 100 m
The pin marks the village of Kalograia, not the building. Approximate location. Open in the map →

Protection

Antiquities Law
  1. 14 April 1927

    Declared an Ancient Monument, No. 255

    “The Antiphonitis Church”

    The Cyprus Gazette No. 1841 of 14 April 1927 (Notice No. 255), p. 17, PDF p. 201 Online

  2. 10 May 1935

    Scheduled in 1935, Second Schedule, Kyrenia item 2

    “The Antiphonitis Church”

    Supplement No. 1 to The Cyprus Gazette No. 2441 of 10 May 1935, A Bill entitled A Law to consolidate and amend the Law relating to Antiquities [the Antiquities Law, 1935], Second Schedule, District of Kyrenia, item 2, p. 328, PDF p. 348 Online

  3. 18 December 1936

    Proposed for declaration

    “The Monastery of Antiphonitis, including the subsidiary buildings”

    The Cyprus Gazette of 18 December 1936, p. S26, PDF p. 740 Online

  4. 21 December 1936

    Protection, No. 1211

    “The church of Antiphonitis”

    The Cyprus Gazette of 24 December 1936 (Notice No. 1211), p. 836, PDF p. 750 Online

  5. 19 May 1937

    Order under the Antiquities Law, No. 104, Second Schedule, Kyrenia

    “The Monastery of Antiphonitis, including the subsidiary buildings pertaining thereto”

    Supplement No. 3 to The Cyprus Gazette No. 2587 of 21 May 1937, No. 104, The Antiquities Law, 1935: Order in Council No. 1744 made under section 6 (1) (made 19 May 1937), Second Schedule, Kyrenia, p. 143 Online

What was done when

1 record
  1. Undated

    Frescoes strengthened and cleaned, before and after conservation shown.

    Repair and conservation

    As printed

    “Antiphonitis near Kalogrea (Fig. 10)”

    A. PAPAGEORGHIOU, "Activities of the Department of Antiquities in the Field of the Conservation and Restoration of Ancient Monuments 1960-73", Cyprus Today vol. 11, no. 5-6 (September–December 1973), pp. 11–20, p. 17.

In the literature

11
  1. 1500

    Late 15th century frescoes (Stem of Jesse, Last Judgement) removed and recovered; dated around 1500 A.D.

    As printed

    “32 late 15th century frescoes from the An-”

    Anon., "Cypriot Treasures Recovered", Cyprus Today vol. 35, no. 3-4 (July–December 1997), pp. 53–56, p. 54.

  2. 1988

    12th-century fresco of archangel head scraped away; 15th-century Tree of Jesse fresco also destroyed; marble floor tiles stolen in 1988.; in the occupied north after 1974 (report as printed)

    As printed

    “la moitie des carreaux en marbre du plancher avaient ete enlevees”

    Georges Lycourgos, "Consequences de l'occupation Turque sur le patrimoine culturel de Chypre", Cyprus Today vol. 29, no. 1 (January–March 1991), pp. 11–16, p. 14.

  3. Undated

    12th century church; frescoes found in Munich after looting.

    As printed

    “Frescoes from the12th century Church of Antiphonitis, Kalograia, Kyrenia District as they were found in Munich.”

    Anon., "War and Cultural Heritage", Cyprus Today vol. 43, no. 3-4 (July–December 2005), pp. 58–61, p. 60.

  4. Undated

    Byzantine church on the mountain near Kalograia, dedicated to the Archangel Michael.

    As printed

    “There is a fine surviving tradition about the Byzantine church of Antifoniti (proclaimer) that is found on the mountain, near the village of Kalograia”

    Theophano D. Kypri, "Popular Traditions of Kerynia", Cyprus Today vol. 47, no. 1 (January–March 2009), pp. 30–39, p. 38.

  5. Undated

    Byzantine dome of Government House said to be similar to that of this church.

    As printed

    “the Byzantine dome is similar to that of the church ofAntiphonitis in Kyrenia”

    Anon., "Monuments and Memories: Government House", Cyprus Today vol. 42 (September–December 2004), pp. 83–91, p. 89.

  6. Undated

    Medieval monastery whose frescoes, depicting the ancestry of Jesus Christ, were among the looted objects.

    As printed

    “frescoes from the medieval Antifonitis monastery, which depict the ancestry of Jesus Christ”

    Tasoula Hadjitofi, "Stolen treasures returned", Cyprus Today vol. 51, no. 4 (October–December 2013), pp. 11–14, p. 12.

5 more
  1. Undated

    Octagonal church, late 12th century; most wall paintings, iconostasis, icons and altar were destroyed by the Turks recently.

    As printed

    “The octagonal church of Antiphonitis. Late 12th century. Most of the wall paintings, the iconostasis the icons and the Altar were destroyed by the Turks recently.”

    Anon., "Byzantine Churches of Kyrenia", Cyprus Today vol. 17, no. 6 (November–December 1979), pp. 19–21, p. 21.

  2. Undated

    Photo caption shows its iconostasis after the Turkish invasion.

    As printed

    “The iconostasis of the church of Antiphonitis after the Turkish invasion in Cyprus.”

    Anon., "European Parliament Condemns the Destruction of the Cultural Heritage in Occupied Cyprus", Cyprus Today vol. 27, no. 1 (January–March 1989), p. 23.

  3. Undated

    Twelfth century Orthodox church near Kalograia/Ayios Ambrosios; interior wall paintings and carved wooden doors stolen; described as one of the oldest and most beautiful churches on the island.

    As printed

    “the church and have stolen all the wall paintings down to the stone and have smuggled them abroad”

    Glyn Hughes, ""Demokrat" condemns the destruction of the Antiphonitis church", Cyprus Today vol. 26, no. 3 (July–September 1988), pp. 30–33, p. 30.

  4. Undated

    Twelfth-century Orthodox church on north side of Pentadactylos range; wall paintings and wooden fittings stolen over about 13 years and smuggled abroad, per Turkish Cypriot newspaper Demokrat article

    As printed

    “have stolen all the wall paintings down to the stone and have smuggled them abroad, turning the church into a derelict place”

    Anon., "Angelos Makrides", Cyprus Today vol. 26, no. 3 (July–September 1988), pp. 29–30, p. 30.

  5. Undated

    Wall-painting depicting the Last Judgement, second half of the 15th century A.D.; in occupied area.

    As printed

    “Antiphonitis Church: Wall-painting depicting the "Last Judgement" (Second half of”

    D. CHRISTOU, "Cypriote Antiquities in Turkish Occupied Areas", Cyprus Today vol. 12, no. 3-4 (May–August 1974), pp. 46–51, p. 48.

Pictures

2
Department of Antiquities of Cyprus2 photographs1924–1939
  • Department of Antiquities, Republic of Cyprus, photographic archive, negative B12424, via HISTORICA (University of Bologna), fonds «OUC Department of Antiquities Republic of Cyprus» (BYZART, Open University of Cyprus), hdl 20.500.14008/25578: «Department of Antiquities, Republic of Cyprus, Kalograia, Church of Christ Antiphonitis, nave, south wall, wall paintings (B12424)», Photograph taken 1924 Online
  • Department of Antiquities, Republic of Cyprus, photographic archive, negative A1488, via HISTORICA (University of Bologna), fonds «OUC Department of Antiquities Republic of Cyprus» (BYZART, Open University of Cyprus), hdl 20.500.14008/25576: «Department of Antiquities, Republic of Cyprus, Kalograia, Church of Christ Antiphonitis, south-east view of church (A1488) Photograph taken 1939», Photograph taken 1939 Online

Sources

  1. 1.Department of Antiquities, Republic of Cyprus, photographic archive, negative B12424, via HISTORICA (University of Bologna), fonds «OUC Department of Antiquities Republic of Cyprus» (BYZART, Open University of Cyprus), hdl 20.500.14008/25578: «Department of Antiquities, Republic of Cyprus, Kalograia, Church of Christ Antiphonitis, nave, south wall, wall paintings (B12424)», Photograph taken 1924 Online
  2. 2.Department of Antiquities, Republic of Cyprus, photographic archive, negative A1488, via HISTORICA (University of Bologna), fonds «OUC Department of Antiquities Republic of Cyprus» (BYZART, Open University of Cyprus), hdl 20.500.14008/25576: «Department of Antiquities, Republic of Cyprus, Kalograia, Church of Christ Antiphonitis, south-east view of church (A1488) Photograph taken 1939», Photograph taken 1939 Online
  3. 3.The Cyprus Gazette of 18 December 1936, p. S26, PDF p. 740 Online
  4. 4.Supplement No. 3 to The Cyprus Gazette No. 2587 of 21 May 1937, No. 104, The Antiquities Law, 1935: Order in Council No. 1744 made under section 6 (1) (made 19 May 1937), Second Schedule, Kyrenia, p. 143 Online
  5. 5.Supplement No. 1 to The Cyprus Gazette No. 2441 of 10 May 1935, A Bill entitled A Law to consolidate and amend the Law relating to Antiquities [the Antiquities Law, 1935], Second Schedule, District of Kyrenia, item 2, p. 328, PDF p. 348 Online
  6. 6.The Cyprus Gazette No. 1841 of 14 April 1927 (Notice No. 255), p. 17, PDF p. 201 Online
  7. 7.The Cyprus Gazette of 24 December 1936 (Notice No. 1211), p. 836, PDF p. 750 Online
  8. 8.Centre of Visual Arts and Research (CVAR), Costas and Rita Severis Foundation, Nicosia, online catalogue: pht_01731, “Antifonitis church”, 20th century, ; pht_01732, “Antifonitis church”, 20th century, https://cvar.severis.org/en/collections/item/antifonitis-church-2/3137/; pht_12082, “Antifonitis Church”, 20th century, https://cvar.severis.org/en/collections/item/kyrenia-castle-2/31568/; and 3 more records Online
  9. 9.A. PAPAGEORGHIOU, "Activities of the Department of Antiquities in the Field of the Conservation and Restoration of Ancient Monuments 1960-73", Cyprus Today vol. 11, no. 5-6 (September–December 1973), pp. 11–20, p. 17.
  10. 10.D. CHRISTOU, "Cypriote Antiquities in Turkish Occupied Areas", Cyprus Today vol. 12, no. 3-4 (May–August 1974), pp. 46–51, p. 48.
  11. 11.Anon., "Byzantine Churches of Kyrenia", Cyprus Today vol. 17, no. 6 (November–December 1979), pp. 19–21, p. 21.
  12. 12.Anon., "Angelos Makrides", Cyprus Today vol. 26, no. 3 (July–September 1988), pp. 29–30, p. 30.
  13. 13.Glyn Hughes, ""Demokrat" condemns the destruction of the Antiphonitis church", Cyprus Today vol. 26, no. 3 (July–September 1988), pp. 30–33, p. 30.
  14. 14.Anon., "European Parliament Condemns the Destruction of the Cultural Heritage in Occupied Cyprus", Cyprus Today vol. 27, no. 1 (January–March 1989), p. 23.
  15. 15.Georges Lycourgos, "Consequences de l'occupation Turque sur le patrimoine culturel de Chypre", Cyprus Today vol. 29, no. 1 (January–March 1991), pp. 11–16, p. 14.
  16. 16.Anon., "Cypriot Treasures Recovered", Cyprus Today vol. 35, no. 3-4 (July–December 1997), pp. 53–56, p. 54.
  17. 17.Anon., "Monuments and Memories: Government House", Cyprus Today vol. 42 (September–December 2004), pp. 83–91, p. 89.
  18. 18.Anon., "War and Cultural Heritage", Cyprus Today vol. 43, no. 3-4 (July–December 2005), pp. 58–61, p. 60.
  19. 19.Theophano D. Kypri, "Popular Traditions of Kerynia", Cyprus Today vol. 47, no. 1 (January–March 2009), pp. 30–39, p. 38.
  20. 20.Tasoula Hadjitofi, "Stolen treasures returned", Cyprus Today vol. 51, no. 4 (October–December 2013), pp. 11–14, p. 12.

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