Filenews 11 January 2025
"Fortunately" the Archbishop demolished the listed buildings next to the Archdiocese, because the wave of reactions that had been caused forced him to initiate their restoration and the result speaks for itself. Of course, if it were not for such strong reactions from ETEK, Nicosia Municipality, organized groups and citizens, perhaps nothing would be in place today in the place of the listed buildings.
However, despite initial doubts as to whether the Archbishop would stand by his word, the renovation process was underway and within the next few weeks the listed buildings will be handed over to the Archdiocese for use.
In the buildings (on Patriarchou Grigoriou and Isocrates streets) there will be a small synod for coffee and rest of the guests after the divine service in the cathedral as well as a library.
Archbishop George had given instructions to do what is necessary to achieve the best possible result. In fact, he expected the work to be completed early last December, so that the buildings could be used for the first time at Christmas. What remains are the frames (doors and windows), the floors and the roof of the electrical installations.
The technical advisor of the Archdiocese, Stelios Georgiou, said that the cost of renovating the three buildings is expected to exceed €1 million. For her part, the coordinator of the project, Athena Aristotelous, told "F" that everything is going according to wishes and that the result could not have been better.
It is noted that the buildings collapsed on February 1, 2021 and the former Archbishop had attributed the collapse to the age of the buildings and the rains that preceded it. The explanation was not accepted and the most suspicious had argued that the presence of the buildings was blocking the view of the new cathedral, so it was chosen to demolish them in a way that looked like a collapse. Of course, the former Archbishop did not accept this version, but under pressure from society he pledged to renovate the buildings.
It is reminded that when the demolition of the listed buildings began, a relevant news was posted on Filenews, which triggered reactions that led to pressure and today's result.
Officials of the municipality had rushed to the scene and the demolition process was deemed illegal not only because the buildings were listed but also because in the permit issued in the context of the construction of the cathedral, their preservation and maintenance was set as a condition.
The action of demolition was considered deliberate and that it was done quickly in order to prevent the reaction of the competent authorities, which was reinforced by the fact that the demolition was carried out without first informing even the Electricity Authority in order to cut off the electricity supply, which is considered dangerous.
One of the first to rush to the scene was the president of ETEK, Konstantinos Konstantis, who was angry at the sight of the buildings, indicating that it is inconceivable that parts of culture should be demolished before our eyes.
The former Archbishop in a letter to the mayor of Nicosia had stated that "the property had suffered significant damage, but after the severe weather phenomena that occurred, the brick walls absorbed large quantities of water, resulting in part of it collapsing, carrying away part of the roof and making it dangerous for public safety".
