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Hala Sultan Tekesi
3 km West of Larnaka on the road to Kiti, passing
Larnaka Airport
It
was built in 1816 over the tomb of Umm Haram, allegedly a
relative of Prophet Mohammed, who died on this spot in 649
during the first Arab raids. The mosque is an important
place of Cypriot Moslem pilgrimage ranking immediately
after shrines of Mecca, Medina.
Angeloktisti Church
Kiti village, 11 km West of Larnaka
Angeloktisti
means, "Built by the Angels". This 11th century
Byzantine church was erected over the ruins of an Early
Christian basilica. The original apse survived together
with one of the finest pieces of Byzantine art, a rare 6th
century mosaic of Virgin Mary and Child between two
archangels, which rivals the Ravenna Mosaics.
Royal Chapel
Pyrga village, 35 km South of Lefkosia, 32 km from
Larnaka
It
was built by Lusignan King Janus in 1421. It contains a
wall painting of the king with his wife, Charlotte de
Bourbon, on one of its walls. It is considered one of the
most interesting structures surviving from Frankish
Period.
Stavrovouni Monastery
9 km off the Lefkosia-Lemesos road, 40 km from
Larnaka
Perched
on a rocky peak, Stavrovouni means Mountain of the Cross.
According to tradition, it was founded in 4th century by
Saint Helena, mother of Constantine the Great, who left a
fragment of the Holy Cross to monastery. The brotherhood
is extremely devout, keeping vows as strict as those of
the Mount Athos brotherhood in Greece. Women are not
allowed in monastery, though men may visit monastery daily
from sunrise to sunset, except from 12:00-13:00 (15:00 in
summer), on Green Monday and the following day.
There is an impressive ceremony and celebrations on 14th
September, the day of Exaltation of the Holy Gross.
Monastery of Agia Varvara (Saint Barbara) at the foot of
Stavrovouni hill is easily accessible. Monks here have a
high reputation for icon painting.
Agios Effimianos Church
Near Stavrovouni Monastery, in Kornos area
Byzantine
church of Agios Effimianos is in Lysi village, presently
under Turkish military occupation. After the invasion in
1974 its 14th century frescoes were dismounted, fragmented
in 38 pieces and smuggled abroad. They were finally found
in Munich, where Government of Cyprus together with Menil
Foundation in USA bought frescoes with the agreement that
these will be exhibited in Houston (USA) for a period of
15 years before their return home.
People of Lysi have built a new church on the model of the
original, where replicas of frescoes are displayed in the
basement.
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