The Virgin Mary cathedral was built between 1976 – 1981 by architects Iacovos & Andreas Philippou , with financial help from the World Council of Churches , the Evangelical Church of Westphalia , the Republic of Cyprus , the Holy Archbishopric of Cyprus and the faithful . Located next to Nareg Elementary School , its foundation stone was laid on 25 September 1976 by Archbishop Makarios III and Bishop Nerses Pakhdigian . On 16 April 1978 , the Co-adjutor Catholicos Karekin II blessed the 16 columns of the church , while the inauguration and consecration of the cathedral took place on 22 November 1981 by Catholicos Khoren I and his Co-adjutor Karekin II . It is the only church in Cyprus built in a traditional Armenian style , with a central octagonal dome and a smaller dome for the bell . The church was renovated externally in late 2005 in memory of the Tutundjian family , killed in the Helios air accident , while the belfry was also repaired that year , in memory of archpriest der Vazken Sandrouni . Liturgies are held every Sunday . The church celebrates on the nearest Sunday to 21 November , feast day of the Presentation of Mary . The parish priest ( as of 2000 ) is '' '' ' Fr . Momik Habeshian '' '' '
Helios air accident
Helios Airways Flight 522
Armenian religion in Cyprus