Church of Cyprus and Government Reach Salary Subsidy- Land Swap Deal

After 45 years of negotiations, the Church of Cyprus and the Cyprus government have finally reached an agreement on governmental payments of priest salaries in exchange for transfer of land from the Church to the government.  In-Cyprus reported yesterday that the Church will transfer 15,000 acres of land to the government. In exchange the government will fund half the salaries of 700 priests for the next ten years. For each of the 700 priests, the government will pay the church the equivalent of $733 per month.  The land being transferred is valued at the equivalent of $304 million.