Sunday, September 12, 2021

FORGOTTEN CHAPELS ARE RESTORED IN PAPHOS AREA

 Filenews 12 September 2021 - by Dora Christodoulou



The Paphiotian countryside, apart from its picturesqueness and authenticity, retains until today another special feature: A large number of chapels that, following the fate of its small villages, were left for years to oblivion, most of them at a point of collapse or desolation. This situation has begun to be reversed in recent years. The importance now attributed by state and private bodies to the promotion of tradition, culture and natural beauty of the countryside, had as a positive consequence the operation of restoring small and forgotten places of worship.

Agios Sozon- The most recent example, came these days from the mountainous community of Asprogia, in the area of Panagia. The faith and the voluntary work of a group of people, resulted in the restoration of the ruined church of Agios Sozontas, which is now back in a functional state thanks to the initiative of a man, the teacher Nikos Terimos and the voluntary work of himself and a group of believers, including contractors, builders and other craftsmen. Until recently, the cave where Saint Sozon was martyred with the other anonymous child martyrs as well as the foundations of the ruined church was preserved. The restoration of the chapel has been completed. The informative post of the Metropolis of Pafos informs us that: Saint Child Martyr Sozon came from the parts of Asprogia, Pafos. He was martyred by the Arabs in the seventh century when they arrived on the island. According to the sources, when the Arabs burned the holy icon of the Virgin Mary that was in the Holy Monastery, then they persecuted Saint Sozontas, who was grazing his flock along with other children of his age, until they reached a cave opposite the current community of Asprogia and there they received from the Arabs by fire martyrdom. The inhabitants then built a temple and there they put the holy relics of the martyrs through which many miracles were performed. Today, the cave where Saint Sozon was martyred with the other anonymous child martyrs is preserved, as well as the foundations of their ruined church. Today Saint Sozon is honored deservedly and the faithful receive strength and sanctification from his martyrdom. His memory is commemorated every year on September 7.

Panagia Chrysolakourna- The monastery of Panagia Chrysolakourna, in the community of Steni, which is considered the oldest monastery in the district of Pafos, was renovated and made safe again for use by the faithful. This monastery also hosts a faithful copy of the icon of the Virgin Mary dating back to the distant 1703. The chapel is located two kilometres north of the community, with panoramic views of the Bay of Chrysochous. It was built in the 12th century and is the oldest monastery in the Pafos district. It was a male monastery until 1821, when abbot Sylvestro was hanged by the Turks and the monastery was looted. During the Venetian rule it was the seat of the Metropolis of Pafos.

The monastery and Steni had a common course through the centuries until today. According to tradition, there was a golden trough in the area, although the "lakourna" comes from the Latin "lacus", which means lake. The temple suffered many damages mainly from earthquakes. In 1952 the roof of the church fell due to the great earthquake of Pafos. In 1974 the roof was reconstructed and in the last three years the Department of Antiquities, with financial assistance mainly from the Leventis Foundation, has made the church safe for the public. Inside the church there is a faithful copy of the icon of the Virgin Mary of 1703 that was preserved before the monastery was looted.

The church operates every August 15, November 21 and Easter Tuesday. The road from Steni to the church is in excellent condition.

Agios Ioannis the Lampadistis - The trinity of the most recent restorations of the "forgotten" chapels of the Pafos district, is completed by the church of St. John the Lampadistis in Pachyammos, Tyllirias. It was restored after tens of years with contributions from the residents of the community and other believers, and so after many years divine liturgies are now performed. The reopening of the church took place on the day of the Feast of the Saint and since then residents of the area and visitors experience the sacred feeling in the renovated chapel, in an idyllic natural environment.

Agios Nikolaos- It is a chapel that belongs to a different "category" from the above, but which nevertheless has contributed to the acquisition of intense religious activity of an entire area on the beach of Geroskipou. Unlike the others, this chapel did not need restoration and restoration, since its construction was completed only a few years ago, on the initiative of the well-known lawyer of Pafos Penny Athinodorou-Manti and the generous assistance of the Archdiocese of Cyprus.

However, the acceptance that this area encounters from the society of Pafos rightfully makes it one of the most important religious sites of the province nowadays. His acceptance by the faithful is shown by the demand for the celebration of marriages and baptisms to him. Since its construction, dozens of requests from young couples and other citizens for weddings and baptisms have been on a continuous basis to the competent authorities of the Metropolis of Pafos, since both the style of its construction, reminiscent of the Aegean and the Greek islands, and the stunning view from the point where it has been erected, make it unique throughout Paphos.

The demand has increased even more from the already strong demand that existed all the years of operation of the church, since the suspension of ceremonies due to the pandemic has contributed to the transfer of dozens of sacraments to Paphos this year.

Panagia Limeniotissa - A religious place with a peculiar status, is that of Panagia Limeniotissa, which, like the name betrays, is located in the harbour of Kato Pafos. It is a religious site that has its unique status to be part of the great archaeological treasures of Kato Pafos, being within the Archaeological Park protected by UNESCO.

In recent years, an effort has been made to highlight this area, through the installation of information signs and the lighting of the monument, which is located right next to the alley that leads from the square area to the entrance of the Archaeological Park, towards the back of the buildings of the Ports Authority and the square area of the Castle of Kato Pafos.

Those involved in the tourism industry of the port area stress that the installation of information signs for the monument, by the Department of Antiquities, showed the great interest of visitors around it, which increased even more when the infrastructure for its electricity supply was placed at night, a fact that contributes to its promotion and improvement of the image of the wider region.