Filenews 30 September 2020 - by Dora Christodoulou
Interest even among scientific bodies has been caused by the uniqueness of the case of Madri in Paphos. Contrary to the current of the modern era that wants small communities to be plagued by urbanism and to decline slowly and steadily, this small community of Paphos province not only does not face such problems, but instead asks for help from the state to address the issues created by overcrowding.
The grace of the community eventually reached the academic field, with the reasons for this particularity being also a matter of work and thesis of students.
The community of Mandria, on the beach of eastern Paphos, in recent years attracts a large number of new residents due to the residential plots created there and its tourist development. Characteristic of the specificity of the case of Mandria, is the fact that according to the last census made at the beginning of 2014, 903 people live permanently in the community, while in the summer with visitors its population increases to 2,000 to 2,500 thousand people.
Indicative of the huge increase in the population is that the community authority sent a memorandum to the Ministry of Education setting out the problems created in the Primary and Kindergarten of the community by their overcrowding. The two schools receive a much larger number of beneficiaries than their actual capacity, the memorandum states, making it very difficult for teachers and local authorities to serve residents.
The community has built 2500 thousand new residences, while tourist accommodation with 55 apartments accommodates many visitors from abroad, mainly from Russia, China and Britain.
Mandria also receives many visits on a daily basis due to the church of Osia Vryaini, which is considered miraculous and is the only church in Cyprus dedicated to Osia Vryaini.
