| | Then we were back to Paphos, and went to see a Catacomb. A Catacomb is a place underground where Christians used to go to worship in secret during the times of Ancient Rome, when they could be killed if people found out they were Christians. Most people think that Catacombs were only in Italy, but here is one in Cyprus called Agia Solomoni:
Agia Solomoni was a devout Jewish Mother before the time of Christ. She and her seven sons courageously gave their lives because they would not deny their belief in God. The books of Maccabbes in the Bible tell about her, and the Jewish Feast of Hannukah is a feast that celebrates the final victory of those who were faithful to God in those times. This is an Early Christian Church that honored her and her love for God.
Then we went to see a Monastery
| Pafos |
|
 |
|
Agios Neofytos Monastery |
|
|
|
|
|
9km (5.5 miles) north of Pafos.
April-October
Monday-Sunday: 09:00-12:00 & 14:00-16:00
November-March
Monday-Sunday: 09:00-16:00
Entrance fee for the Museum and
the Encleistra: C£0,50 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Founded at the end of the 12th century by the Cypriot hermit and writer Neofytos.
The 'Egkleistra', an enclosure carved out of the mountain by the hermit, contains some of the finest Byzantine frescoes dating from the 12th to 15th century. In the monastery church which contains some of the most beautiful icons of the Post-Byzantine period of the 16th century is a very interesting ecclesiastical museum. |
|
This is the courtyard of the Monastery:
Here you can see the caves up on the side of the Mountain where St. Neophytos and some of his followers used to stay - about 800 years ago. They didn't have steps back then, but climbed up the side of the rock. The steps were built for visitors like us:
The Monks at the Monastery grew their crops on terraces - a very ancient (but still very useful) method of farming on the sides of hills. This is their garden.
Follow the link if you want to learn more about this kind of farming.
http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/articles/geography/terracefarming.htm
The next day we went to see the Church of St. Lazarus, in Larnaca on the Southeast end of the Island.
You may know the story of how Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. Well, after that, Lazarus went to Cyprus and became a Bishop. When he died again, they buried him here, and this Church is built in his honor.
This is the Icon Screen in the front of the Church - it is a little dark in the Picture, but it was very beautiful:
This is where his Relics are:
This is where he was buried:
Here is an Icon of St. Lazarus with his two sisters, Mary and Martha:
This was a neat Icon in the Church of the Prophets Elijah and Elisha in the Old Testament:
Well time to go for now! See you soon!
|
| | Posted 1/23/2006 2:04 PM - 43 Views - 4 eProps - 2 comments
- recommend
  - recs0
- share
- email
 - sent0
|
