Cyprus Spiritual and Cultural Journeys 1 CHRISTIANITY’S HISTORICAL CROSSROAD yprus, that “ethereal and blessed land” that stands apart, serene and sacred with an irresistible Journeys of fascination,is a paradise full of natural beauty, history, memories and culture. A most sur- prisingC feature is its density of monuments of Faith religious devotion. It is an island of distinctive aura and charm, where the whole spectrum of Christianity’s historical and cultural devel- opment can be seen, from inception to the present day. beauty, where according to Greek AN INTRODUCTION TO A myth the goddess Aphrodite was born - was SPIRITUAL WORLD chosen as the first place to receive the great 2 CHRISTIANITY’S HISTORICAL CROSSROAD message of the new faith on the advent of dedicated to prayer and devotion, but also p Situated on a steep hill, Christianity. Cyprus became the gateway through the plethora of holy men connected Stavrovouni Monastery offers a panorama of the through which the message of the Gospels with the saintly island, thus endowing it with surrounding countryside. spread throughout the length and breadth of the expression“Cyprus the island of saints”. the Ecumene. The first mission of the apos- It is no coincidence that Cyprus - the island of tles Paul and Barnabas (the latter of Cypriot saints”. descent) occurred here in accordance with the Τhe Office of the pilgrimage tours of the will and wish of God: “..being sent forth by the Church of Cyprus ([email protected]. Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from cy, tel. 35722554600, fax. 35722346254) opens thence they sailed to Cyprus” (Acts 12, 4). its doors to welcome the pilgrims and share This divine ‘choice’ – at the same time an with them the holy gifts of an entire religious ornament and endowment for the country – is world. expressed through the many monuments t (From left to right) Multi coloured glass, Saints Barnabas and Hilarion church, Peristerona. Wall icon, Panagia (Virgin Mary) Chrysaliniotissa church, Lefkosia. Church service at Metochi tou Kykkou, Lefkosia. The bellfry of St Savvas church, Lefkosia. Byzantine icons. Panagia (Virgin Mary) Chrysopolitissa church, Pafos. 1 Sights and places of worship and their religious significance od bequeathed to the land of Cyprus exceptional natural beauty and impressive scenery. Dramatic coastlines, deep blue sea, imposing mountains, p Church of Archangelos Mihail (Archangel green forests, wildlife sanctuaries of great Michael), Galata. beautyG and unique ecosystems; and all bathed in sunlight. At the same time, the faith of the inhabitants of the island embroidered and p Agios Ioannis (St John’s) adorned it with countless monuments and Cathedral. places expressing religious devotion; sights that bear witness to a tremendous historical journey. Cyprus has so much to offer the visitor/pilgrim that a single journey does not suffice! Lambousa Agios Ilarionas U N D E R E A T U Morfou A R R K I S H O Lefkosia C C (Nicosia) U P A T I O N Peristerona S Soloi I N Panagia Forviotissa C E Tamassos 1 9 (Asinou) 7 4 Oikos Kaliana Agios Iraklidios Galata Pera Chorio Peristerona Kalopanagiotis Kakopetria Malounta Panagia tou Kykkou Moutoullas Lagoudera (Kykkos) Platanistasa Fikardou Pedoulas Askas Theletra Panagia Agros Chrysorrogiatissa Palaiomylos Palaichori Machairas Pano Lefkara Choulou Galataria Panagia Pelendri Pegeia Trooditissa Koili Arakapas Kato Lefkara Letympou Vavla Tsada Kofinou Agios Neofytos Praitori Kouka Louvaras Tala Kellaki Empa Monagri Anogyra Pafos Agios Georgios Choirokoitia Geroskipou Alamanos Acheleia Prastio Kourion Lemesos (Linassol) t Small parish of Agios Georgios (St George) Alamanos monastery. p St Paul’s column at Pafos. p Archangel Michael’s monastery at p Church of Timiou Stavrou (Holy Monagri. Cross), at Pano Lefkara. 2 Panagia Afentrika Agios Filon Apostolos Andreas p Church of Agios Georgios (St George) of p Church of Agios Georgios (St George), at Chortakion. Kellaki. Rizokarpaso Aigialousa Panagia Kanakaria Leonariso Lythragkomi Кoma tou Gialou Keryneia Akanthou Livadia Historical landmarks Antifonitis Agios Ioannis Chrysostomos Trikomo Prehistoric era U N D E R E A T U A R R K 8200 b.C. I S Koutsoventis H O C Geometric & Archaic period C U 1050 b.C P A Apostolos Varnavas T Salamina I O N Classic, Hellenistic & Roman period S I N 480 b.C Lysi C E Ammochostos 1 Acheritou 9 7 4 (Famagusta) Byzantine period Agios Sozomenos 330 a.D. Paralimni Lusignan period Dali Sotira 1192 a.D. Agia Napa Kelia Venetian period Fikardou 1489 a.D. Ottoman period Larnaka 1571 a.D. Stavrovouni British period Kiti Kato Lefkara 1878 a.D. Kofinou 1960Independence a.D. - Republic of Cyprus TURKEY SYRIA A short distance from the Beirut Holy Land CYPRUS Damascus Tire IRAQ LEBANON Nazareth Tel Aviv Amman eize the opportunity during your stay in Jerusalem Cyprus to also visit the Holy Land. The ISRAEL Island is literally almost a stone’s throw, offering the visitor fast and comfortable Cairo JORDAN access via a wide choice of short EGYPT Aqaba cruisesS or air connections. SAUDI ARABIA 3 ...ONE OF THE FIRST LANDS TO EMBRACE THE HOLY GOSPEL... hristianity spread and took root throughout the lands of the Mediterranean sea very rapidly. According to the texts of the New Testament, theC Cypriots were one of the first to embrace Christianity and preach it beyond the bounda- ries of Palestine. Equally, they were the first to accept the truth of the Gospels outside the Holy Land, when the first apostolic mission 4 A Priceless Heritage COUNTLESS IMPORTANT ARCHAEOLOGICAL MONUMENTS, MARKING THE DAWN OF THE CHRISTIAN ERA ...ONE OF THE FIRST LANDS TO EMBRACE THE HOLY GOSPEL... was undertaken in 45 A.D., during which the Naturally, of great significance to the Church p Morning sun rays entering the Church of Apostles Paul, Barnabas and Mark – the latter of Cyprus is the ratification of its autocephaly Panagia (St Mary) two of Cypriot descent – arrived in Salamis through the 7th canon of the 3rd Ecumenical Hortakiotissa. and preached the message of the Nazarene, Council in Ephesus in 431 A.D. zz Internal view of “crossing the island to the edge of Pafos” This unique heritage is not only unequivo- the dome of Agia Paraskevi, Geroskipou. (Acts, 13.6). cally demonstrated by the numerous early z St Lazarus church In Pafos they baptised the Roman Pro- Christian monuments, but also by the pres- interior, Larnaka. t Frescoes in the Consul Sergius Paulus, the first ranking official ence of many Bishops of Cyprus in the first as Panagia (St Mary) tou Araka of the Roman Empire to embrace Christianity. well as the subsequent Ecumenical Councils. church at Lagoudera. 5 u Church of Timios Stavros (Holy Cross) at Pelendri. 6 Creation Through Faith BYZANTINE ART AND CYPRIOT MONUMENTS OF UNESCO WITNESSING THE TRAILS OF A GLORIOUS HERITAGE yprus, burdened with memories of value, with superb wall paintings dating ppp Church of Panagia its turbulent past and with its from the 11th to the 17th centuries are (Virgin Mary) of Asinou. pp Church of Saints Barnabas monuments standing as witnesses concentrated in the Troodos mountain and Hilarion at Peristerona. to a great historical journey, forms a range. This concentration in such a small p Church of Panagia (Virgin significant centre for the study of Byzantine geographical area is perhaps a unique case Mary) of Arakas at Lagoudera. paintingC and art. This is mainly attributed worldwide. In recognition of their value, ttt Church of Metamorfosis to the important number of monuments UNESCO has declared ten of these churches tou Sotiros (Tranformation of preserved, to their quality as well as to the as monuments belonging to the World Cul- Christ) at Palaichori. degree of preservation of this wealth. tural Heritage, such as the churches of Agios tt St Lazarus Church, Larnaka. An important group of churches of great Nikolaos tis Stegis in Kakopetria, Panagia of t Historical medieval chapel archaeological, architectural and artistic Asinou and Panagia of Arakas in Lagoudera. at Pyrga. 7 The Quest For Tranquility GUARDIANS OF FAITH, HISTORY AND TRADITION ...SPIRITUAL SOLACE, UNDER THE VEIL OF NATURAL SURROUNDINGS... he Byzantine Empire and Apsevdis, are the most important monu- Orthodoxy were the two pivots ments of the island, captivating and moving that indelibly marked the develop- the visitor. ment of Cyprus. A plethora of monasteries In most monasteries, the visitor/wor- was founded with the contribution and shipper will enjoy the colours and scents of sponsorshipT of the devout Emperors of nature and discover new and unique spiritual Constantinople: the Monastery of Kykkos, pleasures. The visitor can share the pas- the largest on the island, with its icon of the sions and faith of the Cypriot people and Virgin Mary whose painting was traditionally experience intense spiritual emotions; and attributed to Luke the Evangelist, Machai- appreciate contemporary reality through an ras Monastery and the Hermitage of Saint acquaintance with tradition. Neofytos, painted by the hand of Theodoros 8 u Monastery of St Irakleidios. uu Monastery of Agia Napa. t The historic Kykkos Monastery. yy Monastery of Panagia Trooditissa. p Monastery of Panagia tou Machaira. u Monastery of Panagia Chrysorrogiatissa. uu Monastery of Agios Neofytos. ...SPIRITUAL SOLACE, UNDER THE VEIL OF NATURAL SURROUNDINGS... Multi-cultural Cyprus In other parts of Cyprus the visitor may come across buildings and religious monuments of different faiths and creeds. Muslim mosques, orthodox temples and churches of other creeds co-exist peacefully, thus demonstrating the unique and rich history and tradi- tions of this country, one that is expressed vividly p Catholic church of through the monuments p The mosque of Um Haram or Tekkesi Hala Sultan, an especially noteworthy and important Terra Santa, Larnaka. on the island. Muslim place of worship connected with the prophet Mohammed himself, by Larnaka’s Salt Lake.