Historical background information

The church of St. George of the Latins is considered the oldest example of Gothic architecture in Famagusta after the doorways of SS. Peter and Paul. Its construction likely dates to the last quarter of the 13th century or the early years of the 14th. Based on architectural evidence, it can be concluded that construction began before the city's wider circuit walls were completed, as indicated by certain defensive and security features integrated into the structure.

The church was probably built by members of the cathedral workshop and reflects an effort to adapt the Gothic architectural style to the traditional Cypriot single-nave chapel design, similar to earlier developments seen at the Franciscan monastery.

It consists of a single nave with four bays ending in a three-sided apse. The ribbed cross-vaults of the roof were supported by clusters of three embedded columns, with single columns positioned at the eastern and western corners. External buttresses were used to counteract the vaults' tension. The tops of these buttresses were decorated with white marble gargoyles, some of which still survive in a deteriorated state. The church likely had three doors—one on the west side and two on the north and south sides of the second bay.

Each of the remaining bays featured arcades framed by pointed arches. Tall, narrow windows were placed in each bay, with three additional windows on each side of the apse.

Much of the roof, the western section, and the entire southern wall have been lost, possibly due to artillery fire from the southeastern section of the city walls during the 1570 siege of Famagusta. The most devastating damage may have resulted from the explosion of gunpowder stored inside the church, which blew outward toward the south. Since then, stones from the monument have been repurposed for construction projects in Larnaca and Port Said.