'Controversial Cultural Heritage and Monuments'

Cyprus International University (CIU) Department of Political Science and International Relations Lecturer Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dilek Latif led a discussion group on 'A Controversial Cultural and Religious Heritage in Cyprus: Apostolos Andreas Monastery' at the international workshop on 'Controversial Cultural Heritage and Monuments' in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia.

The workshop was organized within the scope of the Monumental Controversies project of the Netherlands-based European Association of History Educators (EuroClio) organized in collaboration with the 'Controversial Histories Initiative' and financed by the European Union to examine the difficulties faced by educators in teaching history.

Latif stated that discussions on historical and cultural heritage in public spaces around the world and studies on the interpretation of national histories are on the rise in our day and age, and noted that the workshop she held was about a rich and complex historical and cultural heritage that has been the subject of discussions for years as a result of the divided status of the island.

Reminding that the Apostolos Andreas Monastery comprises an important part of the rich heritage of Cyprus, Latif emphasized that it is considered a historical monument for both Greek Orthodox and Turkish Cypriot Muslims due to its religious, historical, architectural and cultural influences.

Latif stated that the monastery has served as a place of pilgrimage for centuries and added: “Its architecture, which dates back to the Byzantine period, carries Ottoman as well as Byzantine influences. It represents a mixture of different historical periods and architectural styles. The location of Turkish Cypriots in the north has led to debates over access, protection and management of the Monastery. Its importance has become even greater in the context of the island's divided status and ongoing tensions.”

Pointing out that naming the square where the monastery is located “Bülent Ecevit” caused political disagreements, Latif said, “Ethnic divisions shaped the struggle for cultural heritage in Cyprus. Additionally, a part of the Monastery was converted into a place of worship/mosque a few months ago. These highlight the different perspectives of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots regarding their common cultural heritage." 

Latif also noted that the main purpose of the workshop was to conduct research to inform the development of a range of educational resources, to prepare an educational toolkit and various teaching-learning materials consisting of lesson plans, learning strategies, learning activities and collections of resources related to controversial cultural heritage.