The Chapel of Saint Mnason in Tamasos of Cyprus

The humble Chapel of Saint Mnason is located opposite the well-known Monastery of Saint Herakleidos on the west side of the hill, a little further down from the famous necropolis of ancient Tamasos, which borders the Cypriot village of Politiko. Unfortunately, we lack evidence or testimonies about when this beloved little chapel was built or the Monastery that we know functioned there (only the ruins of some cells and other buildings that extend to the east and west of the chapel testify that there functioned a large monastery in the past).

Saint Paisios the Athonite as the Patron Saint of the Signals Corps of the Greek and Cypriot Armies

The Signals Corps of the Greek and Cypriot Armies honor Saint Paisios the Athonite as their patron saint.

By decision of the Ministries of Defense of the two countries, July 12th was established as a day of celebration of the Signals Corps, since he himself had served his military service during the civil war as a signal officer.

He is honored at the Signal School of Haidari near Athens, where there is a chapel with a frescoe that depicts Saint Paisios in the middle of two signal officers.

 

 

A Beautiful Chapel Dedicated to Saint Epiphanios of Salamis in Cyprus

 

A beautiful chapel, located east of the Cypriot village of Anarita, was recently dedicated to Saint Epiphanios of Salamis, who was Archbishop of the Church of Cyprus for 36 years, and was distinguished by his piety and love and spreading Orthodox Christianity in all corners of the island.

 

 

 

The Veneration of Saint Hypatios of Gangra in Greece and Cyprus

Icon from 1817 in the current Chapel of Saint Hypatios in the Church of Panagia Dexia in Thessaloniki

Numerous miracles took place both during and after the burial of the Holy Bishop Hypatios of Gangra, a fact that proves that he received richly from God the gift of performing miracles uninterruptedly. That is why it was established for him to be honored from the fourth century as a miraculous protector and patron saint of the city of Gangra of Paphlagonia, while the oldest iconographic representations of the Saint are preserved in temples of Cappadocia and monasteries in Serbia. It is noteworthy that in his honor a majestic sacred temple was erected in Gangra, which until the Asia Minor Catastrophe of 1922 was the central point reference for his veneration and the center of the worship life of the pious inhabitants. This historic Church of Saint Hypatios in Gangra was adorned with a magnificent iconostasis that attracted the interest of visitors, while the miraculous icon of Saint Hypatios, which was saved from destruction by the late Ypatia Patmanoglou, was kept as a valuable spiritual treasure. This icon is now kept in the new beautiful Church of Saint Hypatios, founded in 1973 and consecrated in 1976, in the village of Antigonos in Florina, where many of the inhabitants of Gangra settled after 1922.

The Chapel of Saint Nicholas Planas in Xylotymvou of Cyprus and the Cave of the Nativity of Christ

East of the Monastery of Saint Raphael in Xylotymvou of Cyprus is a small church dedicated to Saint Nicholas Planas. This is a chapel built in the style of a basilica with a dome. Its interior is simple and unpretentious, as it is not painted with frescoes and consists of a simple wooden iconostasis with images of the Saints of Orthodoxy and representations from the New Testament. An internal staircase leads to an ancient cave of early Christian times, one of the many found in the area. This particular cave is dedicated to the Nativity of Christ and is also known in the community as the Cave of the Nativity. 

The Story of the Church of Saint Theodore the General in the Cypriot Village That Bears His Name

Agios Theodoros is a village in the Limassol District of Cyprus, in the region of Pitsilia, which is why it is usually referred to as Agios Theodoros Pitsilias. There we find a church dedicated to Saint Theodore that was built in 1977 on the spot where an older church dedicated to Saint Theodore once existed. The interior of the church is decorated with frescoes painted by Romanian iconographers.

Explanations and Clarifications of Ecclesiastical History and the Deontology of the Ukrainian Issue (Part 7)

...continued from part six.

* As is confessed by the Bishops of the Patriarchate of Alexandria (Nikephoros of Kinshasa), the Russians in various African countries are seeking the right of Russian priests to liturgize in the Russian Embassies of Africa. This is a stark demonstration of unbridled hegemonism and expansionism. They achieved the authorization of the Patriarch of Alexandria for a few countries of Africa, something like exarchies, and now they want to expand more, something like a Super-Patriarchate!

It seems that they succeeded in Cyprus, with the authorization of the Church of Cyprus, they spread even into occupied Cyprus, even though they solemnly lie and deny any connection with some Russian missions of clergy to the land of occupied Cyprus. However, they also have a relationship and they promote the action of such groups on Cypriot soil.

Church of Saints Cyprian and Justina in Meniko, Cyprus

Not far from Nicosia, in the village of Meniko, is the Church of Saints Cyprian and Justinia. This church is built over the remains of a smaller church to contain the relics of the Hieromartyr Cyprian and the Martyr Justina, which were translated here in 1298 from Syria.

The current church was built in the 14th-15th century by the Franks to commemorate the healing of the king of the Franks from a fever. The king recovered from his illness by bowing to the Saints and drinking holy water from the spring. It was at the end of the 12th century when the Franks came to Cyprus.

A Chapel Built With the Blessing of the Panagia Paramythia

Chapel of the Panagia Paramythia in Dromolaxia, Cyprus

The following testimony was written on November 10, 2011 by Protopresbyter Petros Petrou, pastor of the Church of the Honorable Forerunner in Dromolaxia, Cyprus.

It was Sunday and I had liturgized at the large church of the village, at the Honorable Forerunner.

At the end of the Divine Liturgy, having distributed the antidron, a young man approached me and asked me if we were building a church in honor of the Panagia Paramythia. I said to him:

"Yes, my child."

A Uniquely Cypriot Icon of Saint Paraskevi

In Cyprus there are two churches from the 15th-16th century that depict Saint Paraskevi holding an icon of Christ known as "Extreme Humility", showing him dead and being taken down from the Cross. This style dates back to the 13th century. In most other icons of Saint Paraskevi she usually holds a Cross in her right hand to indicate her martyrdom, and in her left hand she holds a plate with eyes to indicate her particular gift to heal ailments of the eyes.

Almost Every Monk at Stavrovouni Monastery Has Been Infected With the Coronavirus

Stavrovouni Monastery in Cyprus is considered one of the oldest monasteries in the world, which is believed to date back to Saint Helen, who established the monastery in the fourth century and left behind a large portion of the True Cross for veneration.

These days, however, Stavrovouni Monastery is not doing too well. For weeks the Monastery has been closed due to coronavirus infections spreading. On May 19th of this year they had their first death reported due to the coronavirus. His name was Monk Demetrianos.

Almost all the monks of the Monastery of Stavrovouni were infected with the virus and some are being treated at the General Hospital of Nicosia. Fr. Neophytos is intubated, while the condition of Fr. Theophanes is also serious. Hieromonk Gregory, Fr. Artemis and Fr. Hilarion are also in the hospital. The Abbot Dionysios was also in the hospital, along with two others, but they were released.

The Holy Spring of Saint George in Mammari

The village of Mammari, in the province of Nicosia in Cyprus, is inextricably linked to Saint George. In fact, in the village there are two churches dedicated to the Saint, while at a distance of about 500 meters, to the southeast of the churches, is the Holy Spring of the Saint.

According to local legend, when a great drought passed through the area, Saint George was also riding through on his horse, and having become thirsty, he found no water anywhere. Going up the mountain, the horse tapped its feet on the rocks and immediately there began to gush water. In fact, the footprints of the horse can be seen until today on the rock next to the Holy Spring.

The Church and Miracles of Saint Theodore the Stratelates in Karpasia of Cyprus

 

Wherever in Cyprus there is a church dedicated to Saint Theodore, it is dedicated to the Stratelates and not the Tiro, except in two cases (in Larnaca and Monagrouli). The other twenty-one churches, chapels and ruins are dedicated to the Stratelates. Only one chapel is dedicated to both Holy Theodoroi, located west of the village of Agios Therapon in Limassol and was of the basilica style. Unfortunately, however, the church was swept away by the river and rebuilt.

The village of Agios Theodoros in Karpasia has about a thousand inhabitants and owes its name to a church found there. It is built on the east side of the village, with dimensions of 42 feet long and 12 feet wide. It used to be the parish church of the village. At first sight it can be seen that it was built in three different eras. The original church was a square 12´X 12´ with a wooden roof. The second section was added later when the inhabitants of the village were enlarged by adding a new section 14´X 12´ with a vaulted roof, and during the Turkish occupation it seems that the third section was added as a section for females.

How Saint James the Persian Became the Patron Saint of the Deaf in Cyprus

 

 

Saint James the Persian holds a special place of honor in Cyprus. Not only are there noteworthy churches there named in his honor, some of which date back many centuries, but there is even a village named after him. But Cypriots don't call him by either of the two English translations of his name, which are James or Jacob, nor is he known by his Greek name, which is Iakovos, but in Cyprus alone he is called upon by the faithful as Akouphos.

The Shrine to Saint Thekla in the Venetial Wall of Nicosia

 

In the Cypriot city of Nicosia, on the south side of the Venetian wall, near the opening of Saint Anthony and next to the Bastion called Pairaktaris (meaning "Bastion Constanta"), there, in earlier years, was a church dedicated to Saint Thekla. It was demolished by the Venetians along with many other temples when they were building the new walls of Nicosia (1567) to counter the Turkish attack. The reverence of the Greek Orthodox Christians of Nicosia to Saint Thekla forced the Venetians to build at the base of the wall, in the place where the Church of Saint Thekla was, a small arch. In the background there is a case with dimensions 0.46 X 0.50 that was used to place the icon. The arch closes with a wooden door that opens only on the day of the celebration of the memory of the Saint (September 23 and 24).

Saint Helen and Greek Folk Customs and Traditions

Saint Helen, due to her philanthropic actions and the enormous work she undertook in the Holy Land to uncover sacred shrines for the benefit of the faithful, is especially beloved among Christians. The Greek people have associated many traditions with her name.

Asia Minor

Along with her son Constantine, they are considered patron saints of pilgrims to the Holy Land. "May you go with the help of St. Constantine, and return with the prayers of St. Helen," was said by Greeks in Asia Minor to those who traveled to the Holy Land.

A Recent Wondrous Appearance of Saint Helen in Cyprus

Church of Sts. Constantine and Helen in Saranti, Cyprus

By Metropolitan Neophytos of Morphou

To understand the magnitude and strength of the Service of a Consecration of a Temple, I will tell you a story from five years ago (around 2011) that took place in a village of our Metropolis, in Saranti. There Saint Helen appeared to a woman who lives in that village, and the church there is dedicated to Saints Constantine and Helen.

This woman was facing a difficult illness and one day Saint Helen appeared to her and said: "I will make you well! But I also have a problem that I need your help with."

"What problem do you have, my Saint Helen?"

Thousands of Cypriots Chant the Akathist Hymn From Their Balconies

Orthodox Christians in Limassol, Cyprus went out on their balconies Friday evening, 3 April 2020, holding candles and chanting the Akathist Hymn, accompanied by a live radio broadcast of the service from the Cathedral Church of Agia Napa.

Thousands of worshipers accepted the call of a group of Limassol citizens who took the initiative for this group prayer and sent the message that "this virus will not defeat us, it will not shake our faith."

Only a priest and chanters and a sexton are allowed in churches of Cyprus during the coronavirus pandemic. This event took place with the blessing of Metropolitan Athanasios of Limassol.

A Chapel in Cyprus Dedicated to Saint Joseph the Betrothed

In the center of the city of Limassol in Cyprus stands a beautiful and picturesque chapel, unique in its architecture and decoration, dedicated to Saint Joseph the Betrothed. Despite the fact that it adjoins much taller and more modern buildings, this chapel manages to stand out. Following the style of the three-aisled, cruciform church, construction on the chapel began in 2006 and was completed in 2009. Its distinctive feature is the decoration of its exterior walls, alternating rows of red bricks and white stone. The chapel's outer courtyard is paved with a special type of tile imported from China. All around the yard is enclosed with a stone wall and a decorative railing. The result is a unique type of temple, creating a modern image, based on traditional elements of ecclesiastical architecture.

The Neutral Stance of Cyprus on the Ukrainian Issue

At the end of the Divine Liturgy on Sunday 3 November 2019, Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus made the following remarks after the Church of Russia decided to cut off commemoration of the Church of Greece: