Remains of 6 Greek soldiers killed during Turkish invasion of Cyprus finally returned home

Greece is repatriating the identified remains of six soldiers who were killed in action in Cyprus during Turkey’s invasion in 1974.

The soldiers’ relatives were honored during a church service and ceremony, which took place at the Church of Divine Wisdom in Strovolos, Cyprus on Thursday prior to the coffins being flown aboard a Greek air force transport aircraft.

Greece’s deputy minister of national defense, Alkiviadis Stefanis, as well as other government officials, attended the ceremony.

This is the fifth such repatriation in the last three years following the location and identification of the remains of Greek soldiers who had previously been listed as missing.

The remains of four of the soldiers were unearthed from graves at a military cemetery in the capital, Nicosia, that were hastily dug in the immediate aftermath of fighting.

*Images courtesy of My Greek Cyprus