Type above and press Enter to search. Turkish Cypriot Protestants and Anglicans are a very small community. Muslims make up a majority of the population in 50 countries. This term is not used in Shia Islam as Shia Muslims do not consider the rule of the first three caliphs as legitimate. This religion is based upon the spiritual and is an independent religion practised worldwide. In addition to the Orthodox Christian and Sunni Muslim communities, there is also small Maronite (Eastern Rites Catholic) community. The religion of most people in Cypriots is influenced by settlers who found their permanence in Cyprus. There are a large number of Church of England protestant expats and foreigners who attend the Anglican churches in North Cyprus. These caliphs are collectively known in Sunni Islam as the Rashidun, or "Rightly Guided" caliphs. East Thrace, located in Europe, is separated from Anatolia by the Sea of Marmara, the Bosphorous strait and the Dardanelles. Turkish Cypriots or Cypriot Turks are mostly ethnic Turks originating from Cyprus. The constitution of Northern Cyprus protects the freedom of religion, and it states that Northern Cyprus is a secular state. The Rashidun Caliphate was the first of the four major caliphates established after the death of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. It is the third-largest city in the country, after Nicosia and Limassol, with a metro population of 144,200 in 2015. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community itself has a presence in north.[2]. Dipkarpaz is one of the rare places, where Greek Cypriots did not leave after the events of 1974 (division of the island) and are still living there in peace, together with North Cypriots and Turks. It was ruled by the first four successive caliphs (successors) of Muhammad after his death in 632 CE. Islam in Cypruswas introduced when Uthmanthe 3rd Caliphconquered Cyprus in 649. This article incorporates  public domain material from the Library of Congress Country Studies website http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/ . Several important Islamic shrines and landmarks exist on the island including: All of the listed, apart from the Hala Sultan Tekke, are in Northern Cyprus. North Cyprus Religion, Customs and Festivities in Northern Cyprus In Northern Cyprus, Turkish Cypriots - Muslims (known as sunni muslims) cover about 95% of the TRNC population however they have always accepted other religions and customs. During the 17th century especially, the Muslim population of the island grew rapidly, partly because of Turkish immigrants but also due to Greek converts to Islam. In 2009, Minority Rights Group International also reported that Turkish Cypriot authorities respected religious freedom in general. A monastery was founded on the site of the tomb in the 5th century, but the present build dates from 1756. Religion in North Cyprus The majority of theTurkish Cypriots (98%) are Sunni Muslims, whilst a small number are Ahmadiyya Muslims. Talip Atalay is the current Head of The Department of Religious Affairs of Northern Cyprus (DRA). Islam, the religion of the Muslim, is a popular religion in North Cyprus. Talip Atalay is the current Head of The Department of Religious Affairs of Northern Cyprus (DRA). The Maronites were 2,752 in 1960, in four villages all situated in currently Northern Cyprus. The Orthodox Church of Cyprus (also known as the Church of Cyprus) which was established by Barnabas the Apostle in 431 A.D., is the most ancient church in the country and is among the oldest in the world. Three major religious groups originated in the Middle East. Maronites, or Arabic Christians, are also common in North Cyprus. Despite the relatively small number of Armenians living in Cyprus, the Armenian-Cypriot community has had a significant impact upon the Armenian diaspora and Armenian people. There is a small Turkish Cypriot Baha'i community in North Cyprus. This diaspora came into existence after the Ottoman Empire transferred the control of the island to the British Empire, as many Turkish Cypriots emigrated primarily to Turkey and the United Kingdom for political and economic reasons. Additionally, many of the islanders converted to Islam during the early years of Ottoman rule. The resulting situation where Sunni Islam was the largest faith in the Albanian ethnolinguistic area but other faiths were also present in a regional patchwork played a major influence in shaping the political development of Albania in the late Ottoman period. The inhabitants are members of the Maronite Church, which is a Catholic Church with its quarter heads in Lebanon. Ömeriye Mosque, is a mosque in the walled city of Nicosia on the island of Cyprus, currently located in the south section of Nicosia. Religion in Cyprus is characterised by two main religious beliefs and practices; Christianity makes up 73% of the population of the island. Turkish Cypriots are the overwhelming majority of the island's Muslims, along with Turkish settlers from Turkey and adhere to the Sunni branch of Islam. Hala Sultan Tekke or the Mosque of Umm Haram is a Muslim shrine on the west bank of Larnaca Salt Lake, near Larnaca, Cyprus. The order represents the official ideology of Bektashism. As they are overwhelmingly secular, alcohol is frequently consumed within the Cypriot community and most Turkish Cypriot women do not cover their heads. Yıltan Taşçı's Award Winning Photo called "Together in One Island" Bir Adada Bir Arada, 1st Prize Winner in "My Cyprus Photo Competition", September 2012, organized by Cyprus Turkish Photograpy Association & Vodafone. 2020 © SIDE TOUR EN | All Rights Reserved. An estimated 98 % of Turkish - Cypriot population of North Cyprus is considered Sunni Muslim. Christianity is also widespread in North Cyprus. Old Town Famagusta / St Nicholas Cathedral. Press Esc to cancel. The Eyalet of Cyprus was an eyalet (province) of the Ottoman Empire made up of the island of Cyprus, which was annexed into the Empire in 1571. This article incorporates public domain material from the Library of Congress Country Studies website http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/. The country has the most religiously diverse society of all states within the Middle East, comprising 18 recognized religious sects. The Maronites belong to the Greek Cypriot community to which, owing to similar religious, linguistic and cultural bonds, they are much closer. The emigration of a large number of Armenian-Cypriots to the United Kingdom has virtually shaped today's British-Armenian community. The primary scriptures of Islam are the Quran, claimed to be the verbatim word of God, and the teachings and normative examples of Muhammad. Subscribe to our newsletter for news, views and information on North Cyprus. Historically, Muslims were spread over the whole of Cyprus, but since 1974 they have lived primarily in the north. The constitution of Northern Cyprus protects the freedom of religion, and it states that Northern Cyprus is a secular state. The Antifonitis (alt. Built between 1298 and c. 1400, it was consecrated as a Catholic cathedral in 1328. In Northern Cyprus are the historical churches of Notre Dame de Tyre in Nicosia (1308) and Ganchvor in Famagusta (1346). Turkish Muslims then settled in Cyprus during the Ottoman rule between 1571 and 1878. The most-commonly practiced religion in Albania is Islam, the second-most-commonly practiced religion is Christianity, however there are also many irreligious people. Antifonitis Church with short walking tour. The largest and most important church in Cyprus, the Church of Cyprus, is an autocephalous Greek Orthodox Church within the Orthodox tradition using the Greek liturgy. Antiphonitis) Church is a beautiful and unusual structure about 20 km away from Kyrenia. Islam in Albania (1945–1991) covers a period of time when the Albanian Labor Party came to power under Enver Hoxha and exercised almost total control over the Albanian people. They are a recognized minority with their own language, schools and churches. The origin of the Maronite Church is Lebanon. The Maronites in Cyprus are members of the Maronite Catholic Archeparchy of Cyprus whose ancestors migrated from present-day Lebanon during the Middle Ages. Although North Cyprus is a completely secular state, with therefore no official religion, it is predominantly populated by people of the Islamic faith. The Ottoman Empire gave land grants to its soldiers under the condition that they and their families would stay there permanently.During the 17th century the Turkish population grew rapidly, and it is now the main religion practised in North Cyprus. Islam, the religion of the Muslim, is a popular religion in North Cyprus. The Department of Religious Affairs of Northern Cyprus, "MEMBERS OF THE AHMADIYYA MUSLIM COMMUNITY DR MUHAMMED JALAL SHAMS, OSMAN SEKER, KUBILAY ÇIL: PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE FOR THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS", The Department of Religious Affairs of Northern Cyprus, Representatives, Representative Office to the United States. You can hear the call to prayer five times a day from most places on the island, but the faith is not practised to such an extent that women cover themselves, nor do people abstain from alcohol in North Cyprus! Although North Cyprus is a completely secular state, with therefore no official religion, it is predominantly populated by people of the Islamic faith. Its principles are to bring about the oneness of humanity, and that due to there only being one Creator, the spiritual truth of all religions is the same. The cathedral was converted into a mosque after the Ottoman Empire captured Famagusta in 1571 and it remains a mosque to this day. The Holy Synod of the Autocephalous Church of Cyprus is the chief administrative authority of th… People speaking this Arabic dialect originate from one village, specifically Kormakitis. Religious festivals are often celebrated in the tradition of the Islam faith. This conquest brought with it Turkish settlement from 1571 until 1878. Muslims make up about 99% of the Northern Cypriot population. The Greek Cypriots are members of the Autocephalous Greek Orthodox Church of Cyprus (Church of Cyprus). The emigration was exacerbated by the intercommunal violence in the 1950s and 1960s, as Turkish Cypriots had to live in enclaves in Cyprus. The freedom of religion report in 2007 by US Department of State also stated that "Turkish Cypriot authorities generally respected this right in practice" and the practice of religion was generally free. In the Old Town of Famagusta you visit the gothic formerly Nicklaus’s Cathedral, which serves nowadays as Lala Musafa Pascha Mosque. The mosaics of the huge St Auxibius basilica exhibit the evolution of mosaics in the 4th and 5th century AD. Turkish Cypriots are not conservative and many do not practice their religion. The US Department of State report in 2002 stated that religious freedom was protected by law in Northern Cyprus and the government generally respected the freedom of religion. Cyprus, officially the Republic of Cyprus, is an island country in the Eastern Mediterranean and the third largest and third most populous island in the Mediterranean, located south of Turkey, west of Syria and Lebanon, northwest of Israel and Palestine, north of Egypt, and southeast of Greece. Turkish Cypriots are not conservative and many do not practice their religion. They speak in an Arabic dialect, although many Turkish and Greek words are used. [1] The vast majority are Anglican and use Anglican churches in the Kyrenia area along with the island's British expatriate community. Ethnic Turkish minorities exist in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire. In Northern Cyprus are the historical churches of Notre Dame de Tyre in Nicosia (1308) and Ganchvor in Famagusta (1346). Cyprus is predominantly Greek orthodox Christian (82%).Since the Turkish invasion of northern Cyprus in 1974 about 18% (Mainly North) is illegally occupied by muslims, as a result of ethnic cleansing. The religion of most people in Cypriots is influenced by settlers who found their permanence in Cyprus. Islam was first introduced to Cyprus when Uthman, the third Caliph of the Arab Rashidun Empire, conquered the island in 649. There were few reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on religious belief or practice, and prominent societal leaders took positive steps to promote religious freedom. Cyprus remained a disputed territory between the Greeks and Arabs for the following centuries, until it passed to Latin authority during the Crusades.