Cassocks, Gowns and Suits

On Wednesday 2^nd April Bishop Michael Lewis, accompanied by the Rev’d Michael Crawford and John and Jenny Worton-Griffiths visited the Religious Affairs headquarters in the North of Lefkosa to meet the Grand Muftu (Bas Muftu) of Cyprus, Dr Talip Atalay. The meeting was arranged with the help of the Girne Muftu, Fuat Tosun. Dr Talip under the auspices of the Swedish Ambassador has been building links to the Orthodox Church in the South with exchange meetings across the green line and more recently a meeting at the UN headquarters in Geneva. Bishop Michael welcomed the meeting in the hope the substantial Anglican community on the Island might participate and support the contacts.

The structure of the Muslim community on the Island is very similar to our own. Dr Talip the Grand Muftu has seven Muftu. Fuat Tosun is our local Muftu in Girne with his office below the small mosque near St Andrews. He has seven imams based in mosques in the Kyrenia area. The remaining six Muftulu are in Lefke, Guzelyurt, Lefkosa, Iskele, Gazi Magusa and a south Cyprus Muftu based in Larnaca.

The six Muftulu in the North were present to welcome Bishop Michael whilst Dr Talip explained his endeavours to open dialogue with the Orthodox Church in the hope that men of Faith may soften and warm hearts in both communities. His wish is for understanding to build because of religion, not in spite of it. Bishop Michael added his wish that such endeavours may bear fruit and expressed his willingness to participate in the dialogue.

Bishop Michael invited the Grand Muftu and Girne Muftu to attend the forthcoming licensing of The Revd Wendy Hough at St Andrews. In Turkish Chaplains are called “Papaz” and after some discussion we were told the first lady Chaplain on the Island would be called a “Papaziye” in Turkish. Fuat Tosun is to attend the licensing and Dr Talip looks forward to Bishop Michael introducing The Revd Wendy to him in the near future.

After the formal meeting the Muftulu many of whom came from areas across Turkey showed their friendship in a light hearted farewell and group photograph. We hope we can all come together again soon, as men and women of God.

To read the original article and other information on the St Andrews webpage please click here

John and Jenny W-G 3^rd April 2014