The Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus has called on the authorities to stop plans to expand a quarry near the historic Stavrovouni Monastery, citing concerns over public health, the environment and the safety of the monastery complex.

The decision was adopted at a Synod meeting on September 17 chaired by Archbishop Georgios of Cyprus, according to the Church of Cyprus website.

The quarries are located near the village of Pyrga, about 2.1 kilometers north of Stavrovouni Monastery. Stone extraction has taken place in the area for decades, with one company operating since the 1970s and another since the 1980s. Plans to expand the existing extraction area have prompted renewed opposition from monks and residents of nearby communities.

The dispute centers not on quarrying itself but on the potential effects of further expansion. Monks and local residents have raised concerns that blasting, heavy vehicle traffic, dust and changes to the terrain could affect the surrounding environment and the condition of the nearby monastery complex.

There is also a history of concerns about the stability of the terrain and monastery buildings. Local media have previously reported claims by monastery representatives that rocks had fallen from nearby slopes and that some buildings had sustained damage, which they associated with quarrying activities.

The Stavrovouni area is also considered environmentally valuable. The summit of Stavrovouni is included among Cyprus's protected natural sites, while the surrounding landscape is characterized by rich vegetation.

The area has previously been the subject of disputes over industrial development. In 2019, monks joined local protests against plans to establish an asphalt production and processing plant in the quarry zone. Residents of Pyrga and Kornos at the time also expressed concerns about potential air pollution and environmental impacts.

Stavrovouni Monastery was founded in 327 by Empress Helena, according to tradition. Church accounts say that during a storm, an angel appeared to Helena and instructed her to establish a monastery, five churches and a shrine containing a fragment of the True Cross, which she had discovered in Jerusalem.