Cyprus became part of the Byzantine Empire in 325 and remained so for almost eight and a half centuries, until 1191. Christianity was the state religion of the island. During the tenure of the Frankish rule, from 1191 until 1489, the Roman Catholic or Latin Church was established as the official church of the new kingdom, much to the disadvantage of the Greek Orthodox Church. After the Venetian period (1489 – 1571), there were more than three centuries of Ottoman rule (1571 – 1878). During that time and the time of British occupation (1878 – 1960), the Orthodox Church had a dual role, as religious organisation of Orthodox Christians of the island, and the nation-leading political coalition of the Greeks under foreign sovereignty.

In 1878, the Treaty of Alliance with the Ottoman Empire was signed. It provided Great Britain with the right to possess and administer Cyprus, but the Sultan maintained limited ownership over the island and its inhabitants.

In 1925 Cyprus was proclaimed Crown Colony, after the annexation by Britain in 1914 and the recognition of it in 1923 by Turkey.

In 1935 the status of the Orthodox Church and other churches and religions was confirmed by law, regarding the Administration of Justice. It explicitly excluded any marital disputes of members of the Greek Orthodox Church from state jurisdiction.

During the 19^th century two different ideological trends emerged, a traditionalist and a nationalist one. A conflict arose and separated believers into two factions led by two bishops aiming for the Archiepiscopal Throne. The dormant conflict led to a crisis in 1931, when after a revolt, the Colonial Government exiled both bishops.

After World War II the Holy Synod of the Church was reinstated. A new Archbishop was elected.

In 1960 Cyprus was declared an independent state. In the following years conflicts arose between Greek nationalists who aimed for unification with Greece and the Turkish population. In 1974 the military government of Greece sponsored a coup d’etat against the President. Turkey sent an army to occupy the northern part of Cyprus, dividing the island into Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot regions until the present day.

The northern part of Cyprus was self-proclaimed independent in 1983 and is referred to as Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). It is recognized only by Ankara.

As long as not stated otherwise, all following information will only apply to the Republic of Cyprus.

In 1980 with the Charter of the Orthodox Church, the Church of Cyprus was established as a legal entity under private law. The Charter never acquired state authority, nor was it subject to control on the part of the State. Church Acts that were of administrative or legislative nature, decisions by ecclesiastical courts and religious marriages were recognised by the state administration and justice.

II. Social Facts

The last census in Cyprus as a whole was taken in 1973. Back then Cyprus totalled 631,778 inhabitants. Of these, 78.9 % belonged to the Greek community, 18.4 % were members of the Turkish community and 2.7 % were from other ethnic groups, mainly British.

When the latest census was taken in 2001, the Republic of Cyprus totalled 689,565 inhabitants. Of these, 89.7 % belong to the Greek community. The rest is divided into other ethnic groups, mainly Armenians, Maronites or Turks.

It is estimated that 94.8 % of the population is Christian Orthodox. The remaining 5.2 % belong to other religious groups, such as Armenian, Maronite, Roman Catholic, Muslim or the Church of England.[1]

Currently the population of TRNC amounts to 200,587 inhabitants.[2] About 99 % of the population is Muslim and 1 % of the population is considered Christian.[3] There are also a small number of Armenians and Jews.[4]

There is no prevailing religion or official state religion in Cyprus. The relationship between the Republic of Cyprus and all religious groups can be described as a system of co-ordination.

TRNC is a secular state.[5] There is also no official state religion.[6] However, religious education and teaching is carried out under the supervision and control of the State.[7]

Orthodox pupils are obligated to take religious lessons, following the teachings of the Eastern Orthodox Church, in primary and secondary schools.

There are also educational institutions for Armenian pupils. The Orthodox and other Christian churches maintain Sunday schools.

The Orthodox Church of Cyprus partakes in all significant economic and social activities of the Republic.

Furthermore it owns a private radio and television channel.

V. Legal foundations

According to Article 18 of the Constitution, every person has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. That includes the right to profess and to manifest the respective religion or belief of choice, in worship, teaching, practise or observance either individually or collectively in private or in public. Furthermore it states that all religions are equal before the law. Pursuant to Article 110 the Autocephalous Greek-Orthodox Church of Cyprus shall have the exclusive right of regulating and administering its own internal affairs and property.

Article 87 states that the Communal Chambers have legislative power with regard to all religious matters.

Article 109 stipulates that each religious group has the right to be represented by an elected member or members of such a group in the Communal Chamber of the Community.

In TNRC Article 23 of the Constitution stipulates the right of religious freedom in teaching, worship and observance without interference from the state.[8]