The planned Armenian pilgrimage to Saint Magar Monastery scheduled for May 10, 2026, has been canceled after authorities in the Turkish-occupied northern part of Cyprus reportedly withdrew their approval just days before the visit was set to take place.
In a joint statement, the Executive Council and the Diocesan Executive Committee announced that the pilgrimage, organized under the auspices of the Armenian Prelacy, would no longer proceed despite earlier assurances that permission had been granted.
According to the statement, organizers had been informed on May 2, through Cyprus’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United Nations, that authorities in the Turkish-occupied section of the island had agreed to allow the pilgrimage to move forward.
However, on May 6, only four days before the scheduled pilgrimage, organizers said they received a new communication from the Foreign Ministry stating that the authorities had reversed their decision and no longer consented to the visit.
Saint Magar Monastery, also known as Surp Magar Monastery, is an 11th-century Armenian monastery located in the Pentadaktylos mountain range in the Turkish-occupied northern part of Cyprus. For centuries, it served as one of the most important spiritual and cultural centers for the Armenian community of Cyprus and remains a powerful symbol of the island’s Armenian heritage. Since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, the monastery has remained inaccessible for long periods and has suffered from years of neglect and deterioration.
