Hope .. The appointment of the Turkish Cypriots and the Maronites of Ayia Marina with History

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"Ayia Marina of the cliff near of Metichi

Have not seen you for years because I am a refugee

Ayia Marina of the cliff whenever I speak I cry
that we are in the village, if I don’t say I will bust

The tears were pouring plenty and so did the drinks. We mariniotes carry a madness which helps healing of wounds and overcoming difficulties and boundaries.. We cry easily…the same goes with entertainment… we go into the fun mode with minimum stimulation.. in what could be described as an "archaic" merrymaking state which exorcises pain ... a generative ecstasy.

Judging from yesterday’s encounter of Turkish Cypriot and  Maronite “mariniotes” as encaptured in the video below, this is a characteristic of people of Ayia Marina irrespective of  religion  .. Listen to the Father Skender singing the traditional song “mariniotou” and see the “mariniotes” dancing authentic traditional dances like “antiktistos” and 'arapies" in the village square. Like they used to do.. with a bitter 52 years break for the Turkish Cypriots and 41 years for Maronites... The event was named “Wild mushroom festival”... it would wouldn’t it J : Nature as point of reference of “being” and of reconnecting, reestablishing a central position. Not as a property of somebody but of belonging to nobody and to all, including those who passed from here and those who are destined to come…  
https://www.facebook.com/kormakitisnet/videos/967656029956382/?theater

Kormakitis.net:

Mariniotes in the square of their village for the first time after 41 years

Today ,Saturday, December 19, 2015, the Mushroom Festival took place in the square of Ayia Marina Skyllouras. Mixed feelings for the Maronites and Turkish Cypriots who gathered together and entertained themselves after 41 years, in the village square.

Over 200 people attended the mushroom festival and with them the Maronite Archbishop and Mufti. The event commenced with speeches from Dr. Joseph Moutiris and Mr. Mehmet Hoxha followed by Father Joseph Skender and Mufti.

The “Mariniotes” walked the narrow streets of Agia Marina Skyllouras with intense feelings but also with the wish and determination that soon they will return and re inhabit their village.

Several Mariniotes climbed the surrounding slopes gathering wild mushrooms. The tradirtional song of Mariniotou, was symbolically sung from the village square wells podium.

In two weeks time the renovation of the old village church will start and it is estimated that the inauguration will take place on Ayia Marina name day on of July 17.

The photos speak for themselves

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/…

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Defteri Anagnosi comment:

The Cypriot inhabitants of Ayia Marina were forced into exile in 1963 after the assassination of the Turkish Cypriot teacher by Greek Cypriot paramilitary and the threats that their houses would be set on fire. It was a violent tearing up of a very interconnected community, which included a number of mixed families. The Maronites of Ayia Marina became refugees in 1974 and the few who stayed behind becoming enclaved, abandoned the village after the murder of one of them. Since 1974, the village and its surrounding land is a Turkish army camp and nobody is allowed to live there. Despite the adversities, contact and cooperation between the Turkish Cypriots and Maronites of Ayia Marina was maintained throughout the half of a century separation. The opening of the check points in 2003 enhanced contact, with weddings and funerals attendances becoming possible. Joined actions started taking place and through them the strong desire to reconnect and return to Ayia Marina was manifested. Connecting and networking through facebook, facilitates the organization of such initiatives and generates open discussions, which contribute to collectiveness and the building of an analytical framework.

 “Kormakitis special status” and for Ayia Marina?

Over the last few months there have been important developments concerning Ayia Marina village. As Mete Hatay writes in his facebook:

Mete Hatay
Let's hope for the continuation of these positive developments. From what I've heard, a new road is under construction, and repairs to the old church and mosque are on the way. Congratulations to all the people of Ayia Marina! Why should all the positive things that have happened in Kormakiti village not happen here?

İnşallah bunun devamı gelir. Duyduğuma göre yeni bir yol inşaatı başlamış, eski köy kilisesi ve camisinin tamiri de yolda. Tüm Ayia Marinalıların (Gürpınarlıların) gözü aydın!! Kormacit'te olan güzellikler niye Ayia Marina'da olmasın?

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