Agia Marina is the only Maronite village situated in the Nicosia District

Nicosia District

For the district of Northern Cyprus, see Lefkoşa District.Nicosia District is one of the six districts of Cyprus. Its main town is the island country's capital city, Nicosia...

, 24 km west of the capita

Nicosia

Nicosia from , known locally as Lefkosia , is the capital and largest city in Cyprus, as well as its main business center. Nicosia is the only divided capital in the world, with the southern and the northern portions divided by a Green Line...

l of the island and east of Morphou. It took its name from Saint Marina .

Before the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus

Turkish invasion of Cyprus

The Turkish invasion of Cyprus, launched on 20 July 1974, was a Turkish military invasion in response to a Greek military junta backed coup in Cyprus...

, there were about 700 inhabitants in the village of Ayia Marina. In the village there are no Maronite inhabitants since 1974 as the village is used as a military camp by the Turkish army

Turkish Army

The Turkish Army or Turkish Land Forces is the main branch of the Turkish Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The modern history of the army began with its formation after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire...

 and Maronite people are unable to visit and/or use their houses and properties. The people of the village have not been allowed to enter the village, despite the relaxations of movement in 2003.

The village is located in the de-facto Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

Northern Cyprus or North Cyprus , officially the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus , is a self-declared state that comprises the northeastern part of the island of Cyprus...

.