Cyprus recovers looted 18th century church doors from Japan

Two ornately decorated 18th century doors stolen from a Greek church in the Turkish-occupied north of Cyprus were recovered on Thursday from a Japanese art college after a long legal battle reports Associated Press.

According to AP, Communications and Works Minister Yiannis Karousos said the wooden doors were discovered at the Kanazawa Art College more than 20 years ago and their return followed “long and intensive efforts.”

The artifacts  which are now in the custody of the Cypriot Orthodox Church, originally stood in the central gateway of the iconostasis — the ornately decorated screen that separates the sanctuary from the rest of an Orthodox church — of Saint Anastasios in Peristeronopigi village.

Built in 1775, the church sits atop a cave where the saint’s grave is preserved.