Cultural assets become abandoned as a consequence of a variety of reasons. Political conflicts and subsequent displacement from particular settlements are some of the reasons for the abandonment of such heritage buildings. Moreover, religious heritage that is directly related to the cultural and religious values of communities can be affected in parallel to the changing circumstances after displacement. Similar to all deserted buildings, abandoned religious buildings cannot resist time and gradually deteriorate over time too. The study focuses on religious heritage in Lefke District, Cyprus. Cyprus is an island that experienced inter-communal conflict and internal displacement of two communities; the Greek Cypriot community and the Turkish Cypriot community. Lefke District comprises a religious heritage that has been affected by internal displacement. The study aims to observe the churches as religious heritage in the Lefke District and to propose appropriate functions for the reuse of the abandoned churches. The research also aims to identify and evaluate the existing functions of the ones that have been converted. As the method of the study, churches and chapels in the district have been documented by photographs and inventories. Then, new use strategies are proposed for abandoned churches in the light of discussions.

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Abandoned Religious Heritage After Internal Displacement: Lefke District, Cyprus

  • Makbule Oktay,
  • Damla Mısırlısoy

摘要

Cultural assets become abandoned as a consequence of a variety of reasons. Political conflicts and subsequent displacement from particular settlements are some of the reasons for the abandonment of such heritage buildings. Moreover, religious heritage that is directly related to the cultural and religious values of communities can be affected in parallel to the changing circumstances after displacement. Similar to all deserted buildings, abandoned religious buildings cannot resist time and gradually deteriorate over time too. The study focuses on religious heritage in Lefke District, Cyprus. Cyprus is an island that experienced inter-communal conflict and internal displacement of two communities; the Greek Cypriot community and the Turkish Cypriot community. Lefke District comprises a religious heritage that has been affected by internal displacement. The study aims to observe the churches as religious heritage in the Lefke District and to propose appropriate functions for the reuse of the abandoned churches. The research also aims to identify and evaluate the existing functions of the ones that have been converted. As the method of the study, churches and chapels in the district have been documented by photographs and inventories. Then, new use strategies are proposed for abandoned churches in the light of discussions.