Author: Christos

The Byzantine Art in Cyprus – Reminiscence of a glorious past (A)

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Byzantine Art is found everywhere in Cyprus, and the especially good condition of these samples of art (mainly the frescoes) make Cyprus a centre of Byzantine Art study. The first Christian centuries and their art reached our days through the mosaics of three churches – two of which are in the Turkish occupied part of the island.

The basic West route is: Lefkosia (Nicosia) – Peristerona – Kalopanagiotis – Monastery of Panagia tou Kykkou – Panagia (Chrysorogiatissa) – Τala – Empa – Κato Pafos (Paphos) – Geroskipou – Τimi – Kouklia – Κourio – Κolossi – Lemesos (Limassol) – Pyrga – Pera Chorio and Lefkosia.

It is impressive that despite the fact that Cyprus was conquered by many peoples, not only did it preserve the monuments, but also continued to create more with only some influences from the conquerors. The Byzantine art was present on the island from 726-843 AD, although due to the iconoclasm, the most significant monument, which has been salvaged, is the ornament of the eastern dome of the five-domed church in Geroskipou. From the 10th century and up to this day, the Byzantine art both flourished and survived. All proposed monuments of the route are considered to be significant. In Peristerona you will also visit the other five-domed church (there are only two).

Monuments: the Church of Agion Varnava and Ilariona in Peristerona, Monastery of Agios Ioannis tou Lampadisti in Kalopanagiotis, Monastery of Chrysorogiatissa in Pano Panagia, Monastery of Agios Neophytos in Tala, Church of Panagia Chryseleousa in Empa, Church of Agia Kyriaki in Pafos, Church of Agia Paraskevi in Geroskipou, Church of Agia Sofia in Timi, Church of Panagia Katholiki in Kouklia, Church of Agios Efstathios in Kolossi, Monastery of Timios Stavros in Stavrovouni, Royal Chapel in Pyrga and Churches of Agios Georgios and Agios Dimitrianos in Dali.

Total route length: 280 km.

Worship of the Holy Cross in Cyprus Religious Route

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Τhe fact that Cyprus is at the centre of Eastern Mediterranean, very close to the Middle East and Asia Minor, played a significant role as a stop on the way to and from the Holy Land. Tradition has it that Agia Eleni, the Mother of Constantine the Great, when transferring the Holy Cross from Palestine stopped in Cyprus, and followed a course along which churches dedicated to the Holy Cross were built.

Μoni Stavrovouniou – Tochni – Lefkara – Pelendri – Kouka – Omodos – Anogyra – Tsada.

The route starts from Moni Stavrovouniou, which has, however, the rule of ‘avato’ meaning that it is inaccessible to women. The church of Timios Stavros in Tochni is the only church built on a bridge, the church of Pelendri with the same name has magnificent frescoes of the 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th centuries. In Omodos, the visitor will see a piece of the rope used to tie Jesus on the cross.

Monuments: Monastery of Timios Stavros in Stavrovouni, Churches of Timios Stavros in Tochni, Lefkara, Pelendri, Kouka, Monasteries of Timios Stavros in Anogyra and Tsada and Monastery of Timios Stavros Minthis in Tsada.

Τhe total route length is not fixed.

Agios Panteleimon Convent

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The 18th century convent of Agios Panteleimon, with its gabled roof, is located in the Achera Valley, northwest of the Lefkosia (Nicosia) district at the village of Agrokipia.

The original old monastery complex consisted of the main church and buildings standing in the northern and eastern side, while the ground floor of the northern part of the church was divided into storage rooms, a laundry room, rooms with gyles and ovens, as well as a room where sweets were produced. There are no remains of the old church, or the original buildings of the monastery.

According to an inscription located at the west entrance of the church, it was renovated in 1770, three years after Archbishop Chrysanthos was enthroned. The iconostasis was gilded, whilst icons of Jesus Christ, Virgin Mary, Agios Panteleimon and Agios Nicolaos were painted at the same time by the painters Michalis Thetallos or Thesalonikeas.

The monastery played an important humanitarian role for the island during the National Liberation Struggle and the Turkish invasion of 1974. It was restored shortly after 1960, and in 1989 another annex was added to the southern part of the building. Today the monastery functions as a convent. 

Region: Lefkosia
Address: Valley of Achera, between Agrokipia and Mitsero
GPS coordinates: Lat: 35.053901 Lon: 33.139694
Contact No: Tel: +357 22 632 345
Operating Hours: Winter, daily: 06:00 – 17:00
Summer, daily: 06:00 – 19:00
Operating Period: All year round.
Closed on Public Holidays.
Entrance Fee: Free
Disabled Access: Available at the monastery but not at the church.
  Opening and closing times as well as entrance fees, are subject to alterations without notice. Visitors are advised to check before visiting.
 

Saint George’s Church – Lazanias village

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The wood-carved church of Saint George is located in the historic village of Lazanias and was built in 1855.

An inscription inside the church gives testimony that on April 27, 1865, a priestmonk gilded the iconostasis at his own expense. Also of interest are the artfully carved ‘gynaeconitis’ (area reserved for women), and the three earthenware jars that are planted on the floor of the church, and were used for better acoustics during Mass. An unusual vegetal decoration trails over the roof and decorates it.

The village itself takes its name from the word ‘Lusignan’ thanks to a farm of the Lusignan Crusaders that formed the basis of the village.

Region: Lefkosia (Nicosia)
Address: Lazanias village
Contact No: Tel: +357 99 374 944 (Mrs Fryni Papadopoulou)
Operating Hours: Church service one Sunday per month.
Operating Period: All year round.
Closed on Public Holidays.
Entrance Fee: Free
  Opening and closing times as well as entrance fees, are subject to alterations without notice. Visitors are advised to check before visiting.
 

Panagia Chrysospiliotissa Church

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Located near Kato Deftera village, 11km southwest of Lefkosia (Nicosia), the church ‘Our Lady of the Golden Cave’ (dedicated to the Virgin Mary) is believed to date back to the early Christian period, and the shape of this small church inside a cave is very rare in Cyprus.

Sadly, the decorated walls of the cave have suffered great damage and the frescoes are no longer visible, but a large religious festival is held on August 15, the day of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary.

GPS coordinates: Lat: 35.091727 Lon: 33.24607

 

Agios Irakleidios Convent

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Irakleidios, the son of a pagan priest, was ordained Bishop of Tamasos by Saints Paul and Barnabas. He was martyred at the age of 60 and buried in the cave where he had lived, and from where he preached the Gospel. In 400 AD a church was built over his grave.

The monastery was destroyed and rebuilt several times. Today’s buildings date back to 1773 when Archbishop Chrysanthos restored the church and convent cells. The saint’s relics are kept inside the church. Today the monastery functions as a convent.

Region: Lefkosia (Nicosia)
Address: Politiko village, 21km southwest of Lefkosia
GPS coordinates: Lat: 35.025445 Lon: 33.24353
Contact No: Tel: +357 22 623 950, Fax: +357 22 624 176
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday: 08:00 – 12:30 / 15:30 – 18:00
Weekends: 06:00 – 18:00
Operating Period: All year round.
Closed on Public Holidays.
Entrance Fee: Free
  Opening and closing times as well as entrance fees, are subject to alterations without notice. Visitors are advised to check before visiting.
 

Agios Georgios Arperas Chapel in Tersefanou

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The chapel of Agios Georgios Arperas is situated about 2km from Larnaka (Larnaca) in the village of Tersefanou, where the Medieval village of Arpera once stood.

The chapel was built by the Dragoman Christofakis Konstantinou in 1745 and has a fresco depicting himself and his family as founders, as well as many icons signed by the painter Ioannikios. The family painting is believed to show the Dragoman offering the church to Saint George as thanks for the successful completion of the difficult project of Larnaka’s aqueduct ‘Kamares’, of which he was in charge of.

The office of Dragoman was introduced in Cyprus at the start of the Ottoman Rule and was abolishedduring the Greek Revolution against the Ottoman Empire in 1821. Dragomans acted as liaisons between the Pasha (high ranking military official) and the local people. They were the most important political figures after the Pasha.

Region: Larnaka
Address: Tersefanou village
Telephone No.: +357 97909557
Operating Hours: Church hours.
Operating Period: All year round.
Closed on Public Holidays.
Entrance Fee: Free
  Opening and closing times as well as entrance fees, are subject to alterations without notice. Visitors are advised to check before visiting.
 

Agios Antonios Church – Kelia village (Rural)

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Agios Antonios Church is located 9km west of Larnaka (Larnaca) in the village of Kelia, and is one of the most important Byzantine churches of Cyprus, possibly dating back to the 9th century.

The building is a three-aisled vaulted basilica which once had a dome, and the church contains significant wall paintings from the 9th, 11th and 13th centuries.

Region: Larnaka
Address: Kelia village, 9km west of Larnaka on the Livadia – Trouloi Road
Contact No: Tel: +357 99 572 202 (Mr. Giannis, Church Custodian)
Operating Hours: Visits by prior arrangement with the Church Custodian.
Operating Period: All year round.
Closed on Public Holidays.
Entrance Fee: Free
Disabled Access: Offers some disabled access.
  Opening and closing times as well as entrance fees, are subject to alterations without notice. Visitors are advised to check before visiting.
 

Makronissos Tombs

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The Tombs of Makronissos are situated west of Agia Napa and consist of 19 rock-cut tombs, a small sanctuary and an ancient quarry.

The sanctuary is a simple rectangular enclosure, made of large irregular blocks. The tombs were used during the Hellenistic and Roman periods, and although they were subject to severe looting over the years (from 1872), archaeologists believe that the deceased were placed in clay sarcophagus that were originally covered with three flat tiles.

The tomb’s rectangular entrance originally closed with one or two slabs, and Pyres were found on the surface, characteristic of Greek burial customs. Most of the chambers are almost identical with a rectangular trench in the middle and three benches at the side.

Region: Ammochostos (Famagusta)
Address: Makronissos, west of Agia Napa
Contact No: Tel: +357 23 816 300, Fax: +357 23 722 607
Operating Hours: Daily: 09:00 – 17:00
Operating Period: All year round.
Closed on Public Holidays.
Entrance Fee: Free
  Opening and closing times as well as entrance fees, are subject to alterations without notice. Visitors are advised to check before visiting.
 

Agios Minas Convent

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The convent of Agios Minas is located in the village of Vavla and dates back to the 15th century.

The building is a mixture of Byzantine and Gothic styles with the pointed vault of traverse ribs and side porticos, and consists of a church, cloisters and other monastic buildings. On the north and south walls there are two large paintings of Agios Georgios and Agios Minas dated 1757. In addition to their religious duties, the nuns at the convent practise icon painting, along with selling fruit and homemade preserves.

Please note that modest attire is required to enter the church.

Region: Larnaka (Larnaca)
Address: Vavla village, near Lefkara village, 38km from Larnaka.
GPS coordinates: Lat: 34.840245 Lon: 33.28606
Contact No: Tel: +357 24 342 952
Operating Hours: October – April, daily: 09:30 – 11:30 / 14:00 – 16:00
May – September, daily: 09:30 – 11:30 / 15:00 – 16:30
Group visits by appointment.
Operating Period: All year round.
Closed on Public Holidays.
Weekends: Entrance to organised groups not permitted.
Entrance Fee: Free
Disabled Access: Entrance ramp.
Website: www.churchofcyprus.org.cy
  Opening and closing times as well as entrance fees, are subject to alterations without notice. Visitors are advised to check before visiting.