Contract signed for conservation works to Archangelos Michael Church in Turkish Cyprus

A contract for conservation works at the Archangelos Michael Church in the Geçitkale village of Famagusta in Turkish Cyprus has been signed. 

The Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage, the European Commission and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) have inked a contract to start conservation works for the Archangelos Michael Church, the UNDP announced on its website on Oct. 17.

Conservation works will continue for eight months and are estimated to cost approximately 390,000 euros, which will be fully funded by the European Union.

With this project the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage aims to consolidate and stabilize the church to the maximum extent possible, in order to bring the building back to its original state, the UNDP said.

The church will undergo a major structural consolidation, during which the frescoes and carved woodworks of the gynaikonitis inside the church will be stabilized and preserved by a specialized conservator. Externally, the portico roof will be reconstructed and the old school building consolidated and protected. The yard and the perimeter wall will be upgraded and improved, UNDP announced, without specifying when the works would start. 

Other conservation works will include the cleaning of dressed stones surfaces, pointing, the removal of repointing and new stone carving, as well as the removal and reconstruction of the existing roof, doors and windows.

The UNDP also said informative meetings would be held by the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage and the UNDP about chosen conservation methodologies and work plans.