Orthodox church invests in green energy, Cyprus

One of the most visible signs of the deep traditions which still inform daily life on Cyprus - the powerful Orthodox church - appears to be taking some steps towards joining the 21st century.

The Cypriot archbishop, Chrysostomos II, has announced that the church will build a special outlet constructing solar power cells in a bid for the church to use more green fuel.

A total of £115 million will be invested by the church for the project. The archbishop added that he hopes that profits from the investment will be used to fund charity and social work on the island, the BBC reports.

Solar power was picked by ecclesiastical authorities due to Cyprus' clear skies and hot summers, which have proved such an attraction to cheap holiday makers in recent years.

The arcane rituals and quaint outfits of Cyprus' orthodox priests disguise the fact that the church is a powerful force in local politics and finance: vineyards, hotels and a big proportion of the island's land are all owned by priests.

Another visible sign of church life on the island is found in Cyprus' monasteries, which attract package holiday makers looking for a tranquil atmosphere, as well as beautiful architecture.

The most famous of these is Kykkos Nikephoros, which is found west of Pedoulas. Built on a mountain face in the eleventh century, it is one of the most spectacular and widely-visited buildings in Cyprus.

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