in the footsteps of saint paul in pafos

¢EIN DESIGN 4875
C Y P R U S
PROJECT PART-FUNDED BY THE EUROPEAN UNION
Pafos Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Pafos Tourism Committee, P.O.Box 60082, 8100 Pafos, Cyprus
Tel:+357 26818173, Fax:+357 26944602
Email:info@visitpafos.org.cy, Web site:www.visitpafos.org.cy
CYPRUS TOURISM ORGANISATION
I N T HE F OOTSTEPS O F S AINT P AUL I N P AFOS
P L A C E S O F I N T E R E S T A N D C U LT U R A L S I T E S
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Cyprus was the first country
in the world to have been ruled
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by a Christian governor, whose
St.Paul’s
Entry Point B
seat was in Pafos, the capital
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★
St.Paul’s
Entry Point C
of the island in antiquity.
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St.Paul’s
Entry Point A
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A I N T S
yprus is a sunny island all the year round, an island of myths,
of love and of dreams. With a 10,000 year old history, it is
a place of great natural beauty and geostrategical importance.
REFERENCE
HISTORIC & OTHER PLACES OF INTEREST
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58 C3 Saranta Kolones Fortress
60 B3 The Mosaics of Pafos : Houses of
“Dionysos”, “Theseus” and “Aion”
171 C3 Anglican & Roman Catholic Masses
at Chrysopolitissa
(Agia Kyriaki) Church
Fabrica (old quarry-caves)
Fort of Pafos
Frankish Baths
“Limeniotissa” Ruins of Early
Christian Basilica
Base of Ancient Breakwater
Pafos Aquarium
Ruins of Ancient Harbour Fort & Quay
Ruins of Hellenistic Theatre
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The beautiful Pafos district on the western coast of the island is synonymous
with the mythological goddess of love and beauty. This charming town
is one of the most important centres of civilisation of the Mediterranean,
with its superb mosaics and many other historical and archaeological
monuments of great interest. The whole town is listed in the UNESCO’s
World Heritage list.
St.Paul’s Departure point
District Fisheries Department
Post Office-Afternoon Services
Agia Solomoni Christian Catacomb
Agios Lamprianos Rock-Cut Chamber
Agora, Asklipieion
Base of Ancient Breakwater
Cyprus Handicraft Centre
Early Christian Basilica/St.Paul Pillar
Chrysopolitissa (Agia Kyriaki) Church
S L A N D
Cyprus has seen civilisations come and go and it was fought over by great
historical personalities. On this island walked Jesus’ Apostles.
House Of Theseus:Mosaics
INDEX
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St.Paul’s
Pillar
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REF NAME
Through routes
One way road
Pedestrian zone
Named Building
Church or Monastery
Ancient Site
Post Office
Castle, Fort
Place of Interest
Municipal Parking Place
Pafos is one of the most important centres of civilisation of the whole
Mediterranean.
S T PA U L’ S F I R S T M I S S I O N A R Y J O U R N E Y
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lthough he was not one of Jesus’ close circle of students, Paul
became an Apostle as a result of his divine calling, thereby
taking on the heavy burden of spreading the Gospel. His task
was particularly important for the religion of Love, Christianity. Paul was
fortunate in that he combined three elements essential to the role he was
assigned. First he was a Jew, characterised by a fighting spirit and a streak
of stubbornness, secondly he had a Greek education, spirit and soul,
and third he was a Roman citizen, with an open passport in a vast empire
that reached the limits of the known world at the time.
In 45 AD the two Apostles Paul and Barnabas, accompanied by Mark,
travelled from Antioch to Silesia and from there sailed by ship to Cyprus,
arriving at Salamis, the largest port on the island at the time. (Acts 13.5)
MEDITERRANEAN SEA
In Pafos-Cyprus they managed to convert the Roman Proconsul who
embraced the Christian faith thereby making Cyprus the first country in
the world to be governed by a Christian.
Follow in his footsteps and visit the places where St. Paul preached
and spread Christianity.
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A F O S
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ccording to written sources, St. Paul accompanied by Mark the
Evangelist, entered Pafos through one of the Town entrances
(gates), three of which survive to this day (Acts 13.5), “crossing
the island to Pafos”.
1) The north eastern gate, near and to the east of the theatre
of Kato Pafos
T HE C HURCH O F A GIA K YRIAKI C HRYSOPOLITISSA
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he church is situated a short distance from the harbour and was
built over the ruins of the largest Early Christian basilica found
in Cyprus. The “pillar” where legend has it St. Paul was tortured
and given “forty bar one lashes” for preaching Christianity, is situated in
the church courtyard, amongst the ruins of an older medieval church and
beneath a terebinth tree.
2) The northern gate was situated on the hill known as “fabrika”,
to the left of the modern road leading to the harbour
3) The north western gate, which is the best preserved, once led to
the town from the side of the sea and is the only place where
the entrance bridge has survived above the moat around the walls.
St. Paul, accompanied by Mark the Evangelist entered Pafos through one
of the Town entrances (gates).
The “pillar” where legend has it St. Paul was whipped is situated in the
courtyard of the Church of Chrysopolitissa.
THE HOUSE OF THESEUS/MOSAICS
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The House of Dionysos. The House of Theseus and the House of Aionas.
These were noblemen’s villas from the 3-5th century AD with
marvellous mosaic floors considered to be the best in the Eastern
Mediterranean. The scenes depicted are mainly from Greek mythology
and are executed to perfection.
The harbour at Kato Pafos
Situated in the harbour of Kato Pafos, perhaps the most popular part
of the town, is the medieval castle. Originally built as a Byzantine
fortress in order to protect the harbour, it was later rebuilt by the
Lusignans in the 13th century but the Venetians pulled it down in
1570 because they could not defend it against the Turks, who in turn
rebuilt it and fortified it when they occupied the island.
he Roman villas situated a stone’s throw from Pafos
harbour, were found accidentally and have the most exquisite
mosaics depicting scenes from Greek mythology. The house of
Theseus is believed to have been the residence of the Roman Proconsul
Sergius Paulus, who according to tradition converted to Christianity upon
hearing the preachings of St. Paul. It is possible that St Paul visited this
area in order to spread the word of God.
The house of Theseus is believed to have been the residence of the Roman
Proconsul Sergius Paulus, who according to tradition converted to Christianity.
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E P A R T U R E
ccording to Evsevius (religious history), St. Paul left by ship
from Pafos for Perga in Pamphylia (Acts 13.5 “Paul and the
others left Pafos and sailed to Perga in Pamphylia”).
St. Paul left by ship from Pafos for Perga in Pamphylia.
C H U R C H E S A N D M O N A S T E R I E S W I T H W A L L PA I N T I N G S D E P I C T I N G S T. PA U L
1 The Church of Saints Paul and Barnabas - Pafos
Built recently, it lies in the centre of town. Saints Paul and Barnabas
are depicted in several places inside the church. The church is
dedicated to St. Paul and attracts many faithful especially
during christian feast days.
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2 The Church of Agia Paraskevi - Geroskipou
Built in the 9th century, it is a three-aisled basilica with five domes
in the form of a cross. It has the oldest wall paintings found in
Cyprus dating to the 9th century. It also has 12th and 15th century
wall paintings, excellent examples of Byzantine and post Byzantine
art. It is considered to be one of the most important Byzantine
churches in Cyprus.
3 The Church of Agios Theodosios - Achelia
This is a domed church in the shape of a free form cross.
The remains of three layers of wall paintings can be seen.
St. Paul and St. Peter can be seen in the second layer of paintings
dating to the 13th century. They are considered to be among the
best examples of 13th century wall paintings in Cyprus.
4 The Church of Panagia Chryseleousa – Emba
Built in the late 12th or early 13th century, it is considered to be
a Byzantine monument of great value. It is a three-aisled church
with two domes and decorated with superb wall paintings from
the 13th, 15th and 16th centuries. In the apse is a picture of Christ
Pantokrator surrounded by Angels. The wooden carved iconostasis
dates to 1747.
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5 Agios Neophytos Monastery – Tala
The Monastery is built at the bottom of a deep valley about 10 km
north of Pafos at a height of about 410 m above sea level.
The church of the monastery is a basilica whose dome has Venetian
architectural influences. The aisles of the church are separated by
two rows of columns, with carved pseudo Corinthian capitals.
The apse of the church is decorated with scenes from the
Communion of the Apostles, as well as with officiating prelates.
The iconostasis is a superb example of the art of woodcarving.
A museum within the monastery showcases various ecclesiastical
as well as archaeological exhibits.
6 The Encleistra of Agios Neophytos – Tala
At about 100 metres to the east of the monastery lies the cave
which Agios Neophytos carved out of the hill. All that survives
today from the Encleistra are the nave, the church of the Holy
Cross, the saint’s cell and the altar. Visitors can admire the
marvellous wall paintings such as that of Agios Neophytos praying
between the Archangels Michael and Gabriel, those in the bema
and those above the saint’s tomb.
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7 The Church of Agios Nikolas – Galataria
The apse, the eastern wall and part of the western wall of this small
arched church are decorated with wall paintings. They are covered
with a thick layer of grime which has altered the colours and makes
dating difficult. It is possible that both the church and the paintings
date from the first half of the 16th century.
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8 The Church of the Archangel Michael – Choli
This 15th century Byzantine church is a single aisled church with
a vaulted roof and a higher nave. The western walls were pulled
down in order to join the church with the nave. The wall paintings
date from the 15th or 16th century and are in the Byzantine style
with few western influences.
Island of saints, painted churches, myths and miracleworking icons.