Religious Tourism

Saint Paul’s arrival in Pafos:

Saint Paul would have entered Pafos through one of the town’s gates, three of which survive to this day:

1. The northeast gate, close to the eastern side of Kato Pafos’ theatre
2. The northern gate on Fabrica Hill, located to the left of the modern road leading to the harbour
3. The northwest gate, which is probably the most preserved of the three, and the only gate where the bridge above the moat around the walls has survived

The Church of Agia Kyriaki Chrysopolitissa

Panagia Chrysopolitissa Church was built in the 13th Century over the ruins of the largest Early Byzantine basilica on the island. Originally seven-aisled, the church was later reduced to five and features some of the most well-preserved floor mosaics and standing Corinthian-styled columns made of granite and marble.  Following extensive restoration, Panagia Chrysopolitissa Church is used as a place of worship for Anglican, Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and other Christian denominations, and is also a popular wedding venue.

Located within the compound is Saint Paul’s Pillar where, according to tradition, Saint Paul was punished and sentenced to thirty-nine (forty but one) lashes for evangelising Christianity in Pafos.

The House of Theseus / Mosaics

 The largest building of all known public buildings from the Roman period in Cyprus, The House of Theseus is a 2nd Century villa with a preserved mosaic depicting the scene of Theseus fighting the Minotaur from Greek mythology.  The building itself features over 100 rooms, organised in four wings around a colonnaded open courtyard.  Residential, domestic, working, and communal areas are in the eastern, western, and northern sections of the house, whereas the ritual areas are visible in the southern wing.  This historical landmark also features ruins of baths that were unearthed in the southeast part of the building.

Located a stone’s throw from the picturesque Pafos Harbour, The House of Theseus was believed to have been the residence of the Roman Proconsul Sergius Paulus, who converted to Christianity upon hearing the preaching of Saint Paul. It is highly likely that Saint Paul visited this area.

Saint Paul’s departure

“From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem.” (Acts 13:13)

Apostle Barnabas, Apostle Paul and Evangelist John Mark

 In 45 AD, the Apostles Barnabas and Paul, accompanied by the Evangelist John Mark, visited Pafos on their missionary tour of Cyprus, preaching the gospel and laying the foundations of Christianity.

Saint Gennadios (5^th Century AD)

 Patriarch of Constantinople, Saint Gennadios retired in Pafos after resigning the patriarchy. The ruins of a church dedicated to Saint Gennadios are located at Moro Nero, near the village of Episkopi.

The Greek Orthodox Church commemorates the Feast Day of Saint Gennadios on 17 December.

Saint Agapitikos (The Beloved Saint)

 Known as the “Beloved Saint,” Saint Agapitikos arrived in Cyprus from Palestine and lived a hermit’s life near the village of Pano Arodes.  Located in the central square of the village, there is a sarcophagus dedicated to the saint. The second eroding tomb belongs to Saint Misitikos who represents hatred.

Saint Kendeas

Saint Kendeas was a monk who lived a life as hermit near the coast of Pafos. His cave, church and monastery are located near the village of Avgorou, a fertile region renowned for potato farming and basket weaving. When Saint Kendeas first arrived at the cave, he was thirsty and prayed to God for water to drink. The stone he knelt on filled with clear holy water, which still flows today.

The Greek Orthodox Church commemorates the Feast Day of Saint Kendeas on 6 October.

Saint Neophytos

Nestled within a forest meadow surrounded by green hills, the monastery of Saint Neophytos is one of the most impressive religious sites in the Pafos region. Founded by Saint Neophytos in 1159, the monastery features a closed area, known as the Enkleistra, carved into the mountain by the hermit himself containing some of the most remarkable Byzantine frescoes dating back to the 12^th Century.

Born in Lefkara, in 1134, Saint Neophytos is one of the most important religious figures in Cyprus and of the Greek Orthodox Church. During his time at the monastery, he served as a priest and his fame rapidly spread across the island. He lived a humble life at the monastery, most of the time isolated and dedicated to writing theological work, until his death in 1219.

Today, only a few monks stay in the monastery, which houses a museum featuring many religious items that include manuscripts, holy utensils, old books, priestly garments, jewellery and a collection of Cypriot pottery and maps on display. The main church, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, features icons of exceptional artistic quality from both the ancient and Byzantine periods.

The Greek Orthodox Church commemorates the Feast Days of Saint Neophytos on 24 January and 28 September.

Location: Tala (9km north of Pafos)

Tel: +357 26 652 481

Open Daily (Monday – Sunday)

Winter (November – March):    09:00 – 16:00

Summer (April – October):          09:00 – 13:00 / 14:00 – 18:00

Entrance Fee:                          Museum and Enkleistra: €2.00

Partly accessible to wheelchairs. Opening and closing times as well as entrance fees, are subject to alterations without notice. Visitors are advised to check before visiting.

Panagia Chrysorrogiatissa Monastery

Founded in 1152 AD by a monk called Ignatios, the monastery of Panagia Chrysorrogiatissa is another example of Cyprus’ rich cultural heritage. Located near the village of Panagia, and surrounded by rich, dense pine forest, the monastery beckons both religious and non-religious visitors from near and far amid the most peaceful and idyllic settings.

Legend has it that the monk Ignatios discovered a miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary, painted by Luke the Evangelist, who later founded the monastery in her name.

The monastery of “Our Lady of the Golden Pomegranate,” whose present building dates back to 1770, houses an important collection of icons and treasures. Centrally located within the grounds of the monastery, the main church includes an impressive series of Byzantine frescoes and mosaics; the gold and silver-plated icon of Christ and the Virgin Mary, painted by the Apostle Luke, is also located in the monastery.

The monastery features a museum with Byzantine icons and other religious treasures on display. Also within the grounds is a small gift shop where icons and other memorabilia are available for purchase, including wine produced from the monastery’s own vineyards.

The Greek Orthodox Church commemorates the Assumption of the Virgin Mary on 15 August.

Location: Pano Panagia (40km north-east of Pafos)

Tel: +357 26 722 457

Open Daily (Monday – Sunday)

Winter (September – April):        10:00 – 12:30 / 13:30 – 16:00

Summer (May – August):              09:30 – 12:30 / 13:30 – 18:30

Closed on Public Holidays

Entrance Fee:                          Free

Not accessible to wheelchair users. Opening and closing times as well as entrance fees, are subject to alterations without notice. Visitors are advised to check before visiting.

Saint Savvas tis Karonos

 Originally built in the 12^th Century, and later restored by the Venetians, the monastery of Saint Savvas tis Karonos retains an undisputed captivating charm for those who visit.  Destroyed by fire in 1467, it resumed operation as a church with the assistance of Cyprus’ King James II after undergoing extensive renovation.

Founded on the site of the previous monastery’s ruins, the monastery of Saint Savvas tis Karonos underwent further renovations over the centuries, again in 1533 and later in 1742. The current building still operates as a church; however, there are no regular services due to its remoteness.

Saint George ton Komanon

Located south east of Panagia Village, in an area known as Mesana, the monastery of Saint George is a prime example of 15^th Century Byzantine architecture. Recently restored by the Department of Antiquities, this historic landmark features well-preserved hagiographies including icons that depict the Martyrdom of Saint George and another of Archangel Michael.

Panagia tou Sinti

The monastery of Panagia tou Sinti is a remarkable abandoned religious landmark, located on the banks of the Xeros River in Pentalia.  Dating back to the 16^th Century, and dedicated to the Virgin Mary, the monastery is one of the most important structures of the Venetian period.

Recently restored to its former glory, and recognised by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site, Panagia tou Sinti features a beautifully preserved central nave seen as a symbol of the continuous link between heaven and earth.

Panagia tou Sinti received the Europa Nostra award in 1997 for the restoration and conservation work undertaken by Kykkos Monastery on safeguarding the church’s cultural heritage and original character.

Stavros tis Minthis

Built around 1520, Stavros tis Minthis (or Minthis Monastery) is located in the mountainous village of Tsada, surrounded by vineyards.  The construction of the church took place upon the findings of a large crucifix discovered in a bush with a candle lit next to it.  The original crucifix is on display in the Byzantine Museum in Pafos, while its replica is located in the church.

Stavros tis Minthis is a reference to the island’s rich cultural origins and centuries of religious stories. Today, this historic building is a popular wedding venue, while its gardens welcome quiet and spiritual reflection.

Saint George Nikoxilitis

As one of the richest monasteries on the island, in terms of land, Saint George Nikoxilitis formed a hub of activity until it was burned and looted in 1821.

Founded between the 9^th and 10^th Century, the monastery is located 3km northeast of Droushia Village, and was brought back to its former glory before it suffered extensive damage following a major earthquake in 1953.

Agia Moni Monastery

Known as “The Monastery of Priests,” due to the number of saints and priests that once lived there or passed through its doors, Agia Moni Monastery has links to the very origins of monasticism in Cyprus. Founded around 300 AD by Saint Nicholas and Saint Eftychios as a place of prayer and contemplation, the monastery is renowned for once housing a sacred relic – a piece of the cloak once worn by the Virgin Mary – until 1754. It was also the former residence of Saint Athanasius the Athonite, who lived there between 965 and 969 AD. The Byzantine monk moved to Greece thereafter, and founded the monastic community at Mount Athos.

Agia Paraskevi

Considered one of the most important churches in Cyprus, Agia Paraskevi is located in the coastal town of Geroskipou, and dates back to the 9^th Century.  The church’s unique five-domes, three-aisled, barrel-vaulted basilica makes it one of only two such churches on the island, and a significant example of Byzantine architecture.

Ancient frescoes, the oldest in Cyprus, adorn the walls of this remarkable church; a significant and rare double-sided icon of the Virgin Mary and the scene of the Crucifixion is also on display, and is often loaned to various international museums and exhibitions abroad.

The beautifully preserved church stands on the ruins of an ancient temple dedicated to the goddess Aphrodite.

Location: Central Square, Geroskipou (Pafos)

Open Daily (Monday – Sunday)

Winter:                                                 08:00 – 13:00 / 14:00 – 16:00

Summer:                                             08:00 – 13:00 / 14:00 – 17:00

Entrance Fee:                          Free

Wheelchair accessible. Opening and closing times as well as entrance fees, are subject to alterations without notice. Visitors are advised to check before visiting.

Panagia Chryseleousa

Located in the village of Emba, 3km north of Pafos, Panagia Chryseleousa is a traditional, stone-built cruciform edifice, built around the 13^th Century.  The structure of the church is a combination of two churches featuring three aisles and two domes.

The eastern section of the church, founded on the ruins of an earlier Christian basilica, was later extended towards the west with a domed building of the cross-in-square type.

Panagia Chryseleousa retains rare frescoes of the 12^th, 13^th, 15^th and 15^th centuries, with one of the most interesting depicting the miracle of fishing. Other ecclesiastical treasures include exceptional icons, one of which displays Christ holding a gospel, and a fine-painted icon on two panels with six of the Apostles featured on either side.

Panagia Chrysopolitissa

Panagia Chrysopolitissa Church was built in the 13th Century over the ruins of the largest Early Byzantine basilica on the island. Originally seven-aisled, the church was later reduced to five and features some of the most well-preserved floor mosaics and standing Corinthian-styled columns made of granite and marble.  Following extensive restoration, Panagia Chrysopolitissa Church is used as a place of worship for Anglican, Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and other Christian denominations, and is also a popular wedding venue.

Located within the compound is Saint Paul’s Pillar where, according to tradition, Saint Paul was punished and sentenced to thirty-nine (forty but one) lashes for evangelising Christianity in Pafos.

Panagia Theoskepasti

Dedicated to the Virgin Mary, Panagia Theoskepasti (meaning “Veiled by God”) is a modern church built in 1923.  Located in the centre of Kato Pafos, the impressive Byzantine church is built on the foundations of an older church where tradition has it that a fog was sent by God to protect the original church from the Arab raids.  The fog created a veil over the church, thus making it invisible to intruders.

The church sits on an overwhelming rock, overlooking the entire area of Kato Pafos. An awe-inspiring landmark, Panagia Theoskepasti is popular amongst locals and tourists, admiring the church’s splendid wood-carved iconostasis and exceptional icons on display. One of the highlights includes a miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary, believed to be one of the seventy painted by Luke the Evangelist.

Panagia Limeniotissa

Built in the early 5^th Century, and dedicated to “Our Lady of the Harbour,” Panagia Limeniotissa is a ruined basilica in Pafos, situated a short distance north of the Pafos harbour.  In 653 AD, it suffered damage during the Arab raids against the island. Discovered in 1937, and officially excavated in 1959, Panagia Limeniotissa is part of the Pafos Archaeological Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Colourful mosaics and a few restored columns are on display at the site.

Agios Georgios Basilica

Located near a fishing refuge approximately 4.5km from the village of Pegeia, the basilica of Agios Georgios is a renowned pilgrimage site among the ruins of two Early Christian basilicas. Dedicated to Saint George, the basilica features colourful mosaic floors depicting animals.

The settlement’s necropolis occupies the brow of the steep cliff rising from the west and northwest shore of the cape, and houses beautifully preserved rock-hewn tombs from the Roman period.

Agia Solomoni Church and Catacombs

Originally, a Christian catacomb, although Archaeologists suggest it was a graveyard dating back to the Hellenistic period, Agia Solomoni Church is a popular landmark located 1km from the port of Kato Pafos. Home to beautifully preserved 12^th Century frescoes, the catacomb also features some interesting graffiti inscribed by the Crusaders.

The entrance to the church is located underground beneath a large pistachio tree believed to be sacred. Legend has it that if you tie a piece of cloth to one of its branches, as a personal offer, it will cure any ailment. Both locals and visitors continue the tradition to this day.

Church of Saints Kyrikos and Julitta

The church of Saints Kyrikos and Julitta is located in the village of Letymbou, 12km north of Pafos. The vast number of churches in the area suggest that the village was much bigger during medieval times. Built around the 15^th Century, the church houses a small number of frescoes that have survived over the years.

Agia Ekaterini

Agia Ekaterini is located between the villages of Kritou Terra and Choli. Built in the 15^th Century, it is one of the most beautifully constructed churches in Cyprus and an example of Frank-Byzantine art situated in a deserted location.  The catastrophic earthquakes in 1953 resulted in the complete destruction of the church, which was restored in 1956 by the Department of Antiquities. Further restoration took place in 1994.

Renowned for its rich art decoration that includes frescoes, Agia Ekaterini is an architectonic masterpiece that will impress anyone who visits.

Agios Theodosios

Located in the village of Acheleia, Agios Theodosios is a charming country church shaped in the form of a crucifix with a dome in the middle. An example of Byzantine architecture, this stone-built church houses some magnificent frescoes and icons, characterised by their schematisation and by being monochrome.

Panagia Katholiki

Panagia Katholiki, located east of the Sanctuary of Aphrodite in the village of Kouklia, follows the type of a cruciform church, and dates back to the 12^th and 13^th Century.  The church features a few frescoes that have survived over the years, reflecting the traditional popular art of the 15^th Century.

Archangelos Michael

Situated in a secluded location in the village of Choli, north of Kouklia, Archangelos Michael is dedicated to the Archangel Michael. A 16^th Century, single-aisle vaulted building, this small chapel features an elevated narthex and impressive frescoes. Saint Neophytos used the church prior to him relocating to his hermitage in Pafos.

Agios Georgios

Decorated with frescoes that date back to the 12^th Century, Agios Georgios is a single-aisle Byzantine-style church with a typical dome and vaulted narthex, dedicated to Saint George. The building lies southwest of the village of Choulou.

Panagia Chorteni

Located 5km east of Polis Chrysochous in the village of Pelathousa, Panagia Chorteni is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and is a single-aisle church with a typical dome, and decorated with frescoes.