Armenian Gospel Manuscript Stolen by Turk Returned to Cyprus

September 03, 2015 1601 0


Armenian Gospel Manuscript Stolen by Turk Returned to Cyprus –

Famagusta Gazette – Priceless treasures looted, many from churches after the Turkish invasion in 1974, have finally been returned to Cyprus.

Altogether thirty-four items were sent back to Nicosia, including 24 Byzantine relics and some prehistoric antiquities. 

The relics have been returned after a German Court of Appeals issued its final decision on the fate of the remaining 85 treasures stolen by a Turkish art smuggler from the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus.

The treasures, including fragments of church wall paintings, icons, a manuscript of an Armenian gospel and 40 prehistoric antiquities, were found in 1997 in the possession of Turkish dealer in illicit antiquities Aydin Dikmen in apartments he maintained in Munich.

A total of 173 looted treasures found in Αydin Dikmen`s posession in Munich have already been repatriated to Cyprus.

 


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