St Paul tour irks Greek Cypriots

NICOSIA

This historical map taken from Bible Study website shows the travel route of the Apostle Paul.

Greek Cyprus has expressed anger over plans by a group from the U.S.-based Biblical Archaeology Society to travel to the island’s northern side, on a trip to follow in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul.

Greek Cyprus’ Foreign Ministry said in a statement on its website yesterday that the group’s planned arrival on June 11 via Turkish Cyprus would “breach Cypriot and international law” and “be inconsistent with scholarly ethics.” It appealed to the group to amend its itinerary. The society’s two-week trip to Turkey and Cyprus will trace the footsteps of Paul on his 1st century A.D. mission to spread Christianity in the region. The ministry condemned the society’s tour because it will begin at Tymbou Airport in Turkish Cyprus, and the group has arranged hotel accommodations in Kyrenia. After visiting the regions in southern Turkey where Paul lived, the tour will take its participants to northern Cyprus on June 11.

The first journey of Paul started in Anatolia and took him to Cyprus and back to Anatolia. Paul and the group he led traveled from Antioch, located in what is now Antakya province in modern southern Turkey, to Perga, located in what is now Antalya province. The group then sailed to Cyprus from Perga. Paul arrived at Salamis in northern Cyprus, an ancient city that was located north of where Famagusta is today. From Salamis, Paul traveled to the southern part of the island and then returned to Perga. His first journey ended in Antioch, where he returned from Perga.