ABOUT THE CHURCH

Agios Afksentios Church is located in Komi Kebir/Büyükkonuk. The existing structure of the church was built during several periods, although the exact dates remain unknown. Parts of previous structures were incorporated into the existing building. Entirely built from stone, the church is a single-aisle orthogonal plan building. It is roofed with a pointed vault which is supported by two transverse strengthening arches. The east end, which houses the bema has a wide semi-circular apse, which is covered by a semi-dome. Two arch recesses are built on both the north and south walls respectively.

THE CONSERVATION PROJECT

Born as emergency measures and later turned into conservation works, the project aimed to consolidate and stabilise the structure to prevent possible collapse, thus leading to an aesthetic upgrading of the church. The works carried out on this church were lengthy and included, among other things: strengthening of the walls and vaults, replacement of broken/cracked or heavily weathered stones, repair of the church roof and apse semi dome, provision of new wooden doors and windows, and the proper protection of a mural painting by a specialist conservator. The altar has also been partially reconstructed. The construction works revealed, among other things, three arches, now blocked, on the northern wall; a door frame, of its initial phase, on the west edge of the north wall; a wall-painting on the western arch of the south wall and remains wooden items found above the central arch. other wall-paintings elsewhere and a number of icons and carved The completion event was attended by Greek Cypriots, lurkish Cypriots, members of the diplomatic community and Bishop Christoforos of Karpasia together with the Imam Fahrettin Öğdü on 4 June 2015.