Religious monuments of past and
present in Nicosia (Cyprus)
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Old churches
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The church of Panagia Phorbiotissa –
Panagia of Asinou
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 The church of Panagia Phorbiotissa, better known as
Panagia of Asinou, is situated in the north foothills of
the Troodos mountain range
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 From 1985 it is included in the list of monuments of world
cultural heritage of UNESCO.
 According to the dedicatory inscription above its south
entrance, this is dated back in 1105/6.
 The monastery of Forbion was founded in 1099 and was
run until the end of the 18th century, when it was
abandoned.
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 The interior of Panagia Forbiotissa is entirely covered
with wall-paintings, which vary in date. The earliest
group is dated in 1105/6 and it expresses the latest
style of season. The wall-paintings of the church that
are saved are unique in all Byzantine territory.
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 The church consists of two parts: the vaulted single-aisled nave
and the narthex, which is a later addition belonging to the second
half of the 12th century. Already from the 12th century a steeppitched timber roof, covered with flat tiles, sheltered the church.
The roof is made in such a way because of heavy snow. Also the
walls of temple are made of volcanic stones.
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 The narthex was decorated with mural paintings soon
after its erection during the second half of the 12th
century, and in 1332/3 it was redecorated following
strong Frankish influences.
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Ayioi Apostoloi (Holy Apostles)
 Ayioi Apostoloi is a small chapel situated in
the south west of Pera Chorio – Nisou village
 It dates back to the twelfth century built
during the Frankish domination
 It is single cruciform with dome
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 It has three entrances and each one symbolizes
something different, for example south entrance
symbolizes christening.
 It is built with rocks from the village
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 There are many beautiful, old Byzantium frescos
which represent a saint
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 In 1913 its yard was
turned to a cemetery
because the village was
small and the people
were only a few. The
first person who was
buried in this cemetery
was the priest of the
village
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 The church is small
and simple to satisfy
people’s need of those
days there are a lot of
legends concerning
this church. Many
years ago, some people
said they could hear
Holy Apostles walk
inside the church every
Friday. Many of these
legends are still
narrated by the elders
nowadays
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 In the past, every year on 29th June, a festival took
place in the church yard
 The church is protected by Cyprus archaeological
department
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New churches
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Holy temple of Apostolos Varnavas
 Two temples were built in the Dasoupoli area in
Nicosia. The Temple of Apostolos Varnavas and Agios
Makarios.
 When you look at this temple for the first time you
think that it is one but in fact they are two. In
particular, Apostolos Varnavas temple is on the
ground and Agios Makarios is underground.
 The temples began to be built in 1974 and were
completed several years later.
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 The temple of Apostolos Varnavas is impressive because it was
built in unique architecture. That is because it was influenced
from the west – European Catholic architectural conventions.
 In the temple of Apostolos Varnavas there isn’t a dome (cupola)
nor an aisle as in the churches that are usually built in
Byzantine models. This architecture was only applied in this
particular religious building because the architects in charge
wanted to follow a more modern Catholic norm.
 This temple differs by far from the Byzantine models of most
Orthodox churches all over Cyprus.
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 In the temple of Apostolos Varnavas there isn’t a
dome (cupola) nor an aisle as in the churches that are
usually built in Byzantine models. This architecture
was only applied in this particular religious building
because the architects in charge wanted to follow a
more modern Catholic norm.
 This temple differs by far from the Byzantine models
of most Orthodox churches all over Cyprus.
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Holy temple of Panagia
Theotokos (madona)
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 This temple is built in the center of a monastery
dedicated to Panagia Theotokos.
 The church consists of three – aisles, a semi circle roof
made of clay and a dome.
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 It is built in a plateau and is quite far from the
residential area of Campia in north-west part of
Nicosia district.
 The temple was built in 1991 and was operated in
1993.
 In the south-west angle there is a small chapel which
is dedicated to Holy Cross.
 Many relics of Saints are kept within the temple.
 The temple and the monastery are celebrated on the
21st of November (day of the presentation of the
Virgin Mary).
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Differences between old and
new churches
The older churches were built from materials of the
region, such as stone and timber while today new
and solid materials are used .
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
In the old temples there
was a wooden or metal
"simandro", that was struck
by the priests with the help
of a special hammer, calling
people to attend Mass.
Today, due to the fact that
the residents are more and
the church may no longer
be in the centre of the
village, these have been
replaced by one, two or even
more (depending on the size
of the church) bells. In this
way, bells can be heard
from a bigger distance.
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
In certain older churches,
like the Saint Apostolos
chapel, in the courtyard
existed the cemetery
mainly because the
residents of the area
were less and
conventions of culture
allowed it. Today the
cemeteries are not placed
in the courtyard of the
church but are found
fairly outside residential
areas.
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 Both in the old days and
today, the temples were
decorated with murals. The
older murals, as the murals
of the church of Panagia of
Asinou are considered unique
samples of early Byzantine
art. These murals lasted in
time because of the existence
of a second timber roof
protecting the murals from
humidity. Today, the murals
are often renewed and the
materials that are used are
very durable, preventing the
interior to be destroyed from
humidity
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
In the old days the temples were very plain
following the doctrines of Christianity about
simplicity. Nowadays, culture has differentiated so
the temples have become samples of beauty and
magnificence
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The temples in the early Byzantine years were built
according to a Byzantine royal rhythm while the
architecture of modern temples has been influenced
not only from the Catholic architecture but also from
modern architectural tendencies.
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