A bold €380 million development project in the Municipality of Amathus and the nearby Agios Athanasios district is set to transform the area as revealed by the environmental study recently submitted by the Metropolis of Limassol making it a major undertaking in the region designed with a vision for community-building and innovation includes key features such as a higher education facility The project will also feature an indoor theatre Alongside these essential community services The Metropolis of Limassol aims to create a vibrant hub that stands out for its educational and research offerings The development will be carried out in four phases with the first phase involving the construction of basic infrastructure The second phase will focus on educational institutions The final phase will see the completion of residential areas The entire project is set to be completed by April 2029 with plans in place to ease traffic congestion around the Agios Athanasios roundabout this development is poised to become a key part of the Limassol region bringing a new level of accessibility and opportunity for residents and businesses alike On January 18 the Greek Orthodox Church celebrates the Feast Day of Agios Athanasios Agios Athanasios was born in Alexandria in the year 296 he had an inclination to the spiritual life He was a deacon to Archbishop Alexander and accompanied him to the First Ecumenical Council (Nicaea It was at this Council that Athanasius became renowned for his knowledge of He contributed greatly to the destruction of the heresy of Arius and the strengthening of Orthodoxy He wrote the Symbol of Faith (the Creed) which was adopted at the Council Athanasios was elected Archbishop of Alexandria He remained in his calling as Archbishop of Alexandria for forty years although not for the entire time on the archiepiscopal throne he was persecuted by heretics throughout his life by Eusebius of Nicomedia and many others; and of heretics in general Athanasios was forced to hide from his persecutors at various times: once in a well and sometimes in private homes or in the deserts Only for a while before his death did he live peacefully Few are the saints who were so mercilessly slandered and so criminally persecuted as was St His great soul patiently endured all for the love of Christ and emerged victorious from this entire terrible and long-lasting struggle For counsel, for comfort and for moral support, Athanasius often visited St. Anthony the Great Athanasius had much to suffer for that truth — until the Lord gave him repose in His Kingdom as His faithful servant This article was researched and written by a GCT team member Cyprus Police were kept out of the loop in an alleged thwarted terrorist plot against Jewish targets on the island even as the case emerged in local media after a bomb had gone off at the home of an Israeli businessman in Limassol (Click here for an update to the story) Greek Cypriot and Israeli media picked up a story by Philenews over the weekend that said a suspected terrorist under surveillance for the last few months had abandoned plans to attack Israelis on the island said Mossad officials “confirmed Sunday evening Cypriot media reports that claimed that an Iranian plot to assassinate Israeli nationals in the island nation's city of Limassol has been thwarted.” Suspected targets reportedly included the Chabad House Last Thursday a makeshift pipe bomb exploded on the balcony of a residence belonging to an Israeli businessman but Cyprus Police said they did not believe the attack was linked to terrorism the suspect fled through the divided island’s northern part which is not recognized by other countries except Turkey adding that he had come to Cyprus through that same route adding the Republic of Cyprus was moving forward with issuing an international arrest warrant for the main suspect “Intelligence officials have all the details about the main perpetrator and this appears to help in apprehending the suspect,” Philenews stated Knews was told on Monday that there was no information about an arrest warrant which can be requested by law enforcement authorities through a judge in the Republic The issuance of secret arrest warrants is possible in Cyprus where court orders may not be revealed to the public or other agencies due to national security grounds or other reasons But Ynet reported that an international arrest warrant was indeed issued against the suspect adding that Cypriot officials “located a secret hideout belonging to the cell and found equipment that could have been used in the execution of the attack.” Cyprus Police did not confirm the report but told Knews a bomb that had exploded days earlier at the residence of an Israeli businessman was not believed to be related to terrorism Last Thursday morning an Israeli businessman and his wife were in their home in Agios Athanasios when a tossed makeshift pipe bomb exploded on the balcony of the second floor The 35-year-old businessman did not give an official statement to police but purportedly told investigators verbally that he had no disputes and no scores to settle with anyone Police have ruled out any terrorism links to the incident but declined to speculate on the motive behind the attack the competition among shopping centers is shifting to the market in Limassol The focus of the two strong players in the capital and VLM Group) and Atterbury Europe (Mall of Cyprus) is set on their next investments in Limassol Both companies have formalized their intentions with Nicosia Mall applying for a planning permit for a plot within the administrative boundaries of the Municipality of Agios Athanasios in a commercial and industrial zone next to the Jumbo store prospective images of the project to be erected on the intersection of 1st October Avenue and Spyrou Kyprianou in Mesa Geitonia have been disclosed The distance between the two proposed closed shopping centers is approximately 150 meters The majority of the market's initial reaction suggests that such a development is not sustainable for both businesses and It is noted that this is an area where the Jumbo department store and Kotsovolos are already active.Atterbury's proposed mall will consist of two floors – the first floor will cover fashion changes are also underway for the existing shopping center with plans for an expansion of the commercial space and entry into the residential sector Insiders in the retail market emphasize that the market cannot support two new players offering the traditional mall model as we know it today It is estimated that both can only be sustainable through differentiation Atterbury is already indicating an intention to target a different audience possibly focusing on luxury brands—a proposition that may be viable given the market dynamics in Limassol the operation of two additional shopping centers could potentially be detrimental to the commercial streets of Limassol Nicosia Mall's investment amounts to €120 million in collaboration with the Papantoniou Group The proposed shopping center will have three floors and 105 stores The market suggests that this project may have a slight advantage as the necessary permits and studies are already in progress with construction expected to begin in the second half of 2024 Atterbury Europe's proposed shopping center will consist of two floors while the second floor will focus on family entertainment and a food court with an emphasis on fast food The design integrates both old and modern elements creating a vibrant destination for retail and family entertainment Construction is expected to start in the second half of 2024 The expansion of the existing My Mall in Limassol is also progressing with approvals received for preliminary queries from the Limassol Municipality regarding development coefficients The commercial addition is 6,000 square meters and the residential part is 10,000 square meters expected to include 130 apartments available for either rent or purchase The investment is estimated at €45-50 million emphasizes that authorities should assess the cumulative impact of the two major commercial developments rather than considering them separately It is crucial to evaluate the area's capacity including infrastructure and traffic handling He suggests that the state should guide development by identifying market trends expresses concerns that the market in Limassol is already saturated He suggests that an investment in the eastern region of Limassol might be more functional and sustainable The challenge remains to answer how the Cypriot market can absorb two new developments of the same type in close proximity [Please note that the information provided in the translation is a faithful rendition of the original Greek article] Two women have been arrested in Limassol after €120,000 went missing at a local community over the course of five years two women aged 41 and 71 were detained by Limassol officers on Thursday in connection with suspected embezzlement of funds in Agios Athanasios Media reports described the two suspects as Greek Cypriot women with one being a local council employee at the time in acting as a cashier and the other a community volunteer The two women are suspected of cooking the books and pocketing a total of €120,000 from a social fund in their local community The two women are being suspected of cooking the books and pocketing a total of €120,000 from a social fund in their local community Money reportedly was coming in from cash contributions between December 2013 and December 2018 along with revenue from events and tuition and fees during that timeframe The complaint was filed by the municipality officials in Agios Athanasios while the suspects are facing multiple charges including conspiracy to commit a felony who denied any wrongdoing during their arrest were remanded in custody by a Limassol judge on Friday for eight days.