Located south of Turkey and west of Syria, Cyprus is a country rich in history and culture. This has earned Cyprus a world renowned reputation, as a country amassed in splendor. The main religion is Christian, more specifically, Greek Orthodox. Cyprus is also home to a fairly large population of Muslims, due to their close proximity to Turkey and Syria. Many tourists flock to witness the aesthetic artistry that paints a picture of history unto itself. The Cyprus Tourism Commission the different cultural influences of Cyprus, "Neolithic settlements, Greek temples and Roman theatres, restored Crusader castles, Venetian fortresses, early Christian monasteries, Stone Age ruins and Byzantine churches."1 One very visually appealing aspect of Cyprus is it's religious monuments, ranging from Christian churches to Islamic temples. While the religious buildings share some common characteristics with other architectural components, they are still in a league of their own. What makes Cyprus interesting is the rich mosaic of cultural influences it possesses. The most evident ethic predominance by Greece. After the Dorians conquered Greece, the Myceneaens and the Minoans searched for refuge on the island of Cyprus2. Through many changes of possession, ranging from the Persians to the British; however Greece never reclaimed control, hindering Cyprus to ever regain its inherited tradition of being a Greek Island. The large Greek sector of the population has produced a very strong Greek Orthodox religious following, a dominating 78%3. The northern, Turkish Cypriot area, is understandably driven by the Islamic faith. .
Analysis of Churches.
Greek Orthodox is a very strict religion demanding full acceptance and performance of it's morals and virtues. In holding such great power, the Greek religious monuments are very detailed and breathtaking. As indicated by http://www.cosmosnet.net/azias/cyprus/pictour5.
