New Branch Premises

In 1981, changes at the administrative level were made at the Society’s branch. To care for the needs of the branch, Don Rendell, who was then serving in the Greece Bethel, was asked to return to Cyprus to take over the duties of Branch Committee coordinator. The following year, a Greek-Cypriot couple, Andreas Kontoyiorgis and his wife, Maro, who had been serving as special pioneers in England, were added to the Cyprus Bethel family. As the premises in Limassol were proving to be too small, the Bethel family was overjoyed in 1985 when the Governing Body gave permission to build new branch facilities.

Although the brothers were eager to move ahead with the work on the new facilities, there were problems that had to be dealt with. Where would the new building be erected? It was decided that land owned by the Cyprus Corporation of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Limassol should be used for this purpose. During 1987, architectural plans were submitted to the local municipal authorities, and request was made for a building permit. However, as soon as it became known that Jehovah’s Witnesses planned to build, representatives of the Greek Orthodox Church canvassed the neighborhood in order to obtain signatures on a statement of protest. As a result, the authorities refused to issue a permit to build. The reasons given were “in order to safeguard public safety and order which will be endangered if the permit was granted” and also “the purpose of the proposed building.”

Since the ruling was obviously one based on religious prejudice, the brothers took the matter to court. There the decision was in favor of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The judgment stated that the municipal authority had “no authority for refusing the issue of a building permit for reasons of public safety or public order.” The judgment continued: “However, the other reason given, namely the ‘purpose of the proposed building,’ . . . does disclose the real reason why the applicants’ application was refused.” It was beneficial to have that matter settled judicially.

Even before the court rendered its decision, however, it became increasingly apparent that it would not be wise to locate the branch office in an area where there was such fierce opposition. Providentially, at that time a brother who owned a property in the village of Nissou, just a few miles from Nicosia, offered to sell it to the Society. On an acre [0.4 ha] of land, there was a building that consisted of four apartments. To the rear of the building was a citrus orchard, and at the front was a patio surrounded by flowering shrubs and palm trees. Next door was the local Kingdom Hall. The property was ideal for the branch. There was more space than would have been available in Limassol, very few alterations were needed, the property was centrally located, and the neighborhood was friendly. After approval was granted by the Publishing Committee of the Governing Body, the property was purchased in 1988, and in June of the same year the Bethel family moved in.

[Pictures on page 108, 109]

Present branch office and Bethel family in Cyprus