| BASIC HISTORY
The main part of Panagia Angeloktisti, which literally means "Our Lady built by the angels" in Greek, dates from the 11th century and still serves as a working church for the busy village.
The church was built on and around the remains of a 6th century Christian basilica, the apse of which - and the fabulous mosaic of the Virgin Mary which serves as its stunning centrepiece - still survive today. Intriguingly, the mosaic was only "discovered" in 1952 during renovations. The original construction has clearly been added to and sympathetically restored in parts, and the standard is such that you can hardly differentiate between the ancient and the relatively new.
EXTERIOR & GROUNDS
The large walled grounds around the church are very well-maintained, with shrubs and flower beds scenting the air with their colourful blossoms. There are a few mature old trees on the site with massive trunks, around which benches have been strategically placed - providing a place to rest, people watch and admire the exterior of the church. It is quite peaceful as there is very little road traffic around the site. The only appreciable noise is the insistent chatter of the innumerable small birds perching in the trees.
INSIDE
The main entrance leads inside a large porch, with the small door into the church directly in front of you. You are greeted with a silver stand containing a platter of fresh (and blessed) bread, a bowl of holy water, and a sand filled stand for lighting the pencil thin brown candles provided. The interior of the vaulted stone porch is filled with icons in various states of repair mainly dating from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. They are helpfully labelled in both Greek and English and include a panoply of saints, angels and martyrs.
Entering the dimly-lit church, you are immediately welcomed by the heady, lingering scent of incense, which seems embedded into the very fabric of the building. The interior is fairly simple and basic, which makes the stunning and lavishly decorated wooden altar "curtain" that much more impressive. It is adorned with biblical scenes and saints in vivid colours and gold paint and is worthy of closer and lingering inspection.
Beyond the "curtain" is the stunning 6th century mosaic of "Hagia Maria" flanked two angels. It is one of the finest examples of this type of mosaic and, apparently, one of very few in the world from this time period. Frustratingly, you can only view it through the altar gate and I was disappointed that I couldn't get a closer look. Only the upper half - within the dome of the apse - survives intact. Sadly, the wall below is fractured and large parts of the much larger original mosaic are missing.
The altar "curtain" and the mosaic are clearly the focal point, although he rest of the church is worth having a wander around. There is an ornate finely carved pulpit of heavy, dark wood built into the wall opposite the main door, as well as the remnants of old paintings and friezes (most are incomplete) along the walls and under the main cupola. There is also a balcony, accessible from stairs on the left hand side wall, which offers a great overview of this compact church from above.
VISITING HOURS & OTHER USEFUL INFO
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The church is open from 8am to Noon, and then 2pm to 4pm daily. The only exception is Sunday, when it opens at the later time of 9:30am. You are not allowed to take any photos or video inside the church itself. As is the custom in most Greek Orthodox churches and monasteries, visitors - men and women alike - should cover their shoulders and dress decently. Although there is no one around to enforce this, and you could probably get away with it, it is still respectful to do so. There is no admission fee, however, you are encouraged to make a donation by lighting a candle and dropping a Euro or two into the collection box.
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| The Troodos mountains are located in the center of the Greek part of the islands. They are covering most of the central mass of Cyprus and their green slopes, dotted with tiny villages, the forest paths, the cool weather and, last but not least, the ancient monasteries, attract many people to leave the beach areas of Cyprus and to discover this beuatyful and still wild landscape. The locals are very proud of their cultural heritage: some of the monasteries date back to the Byzantine period. People here are very hospitable and friendly. All in all is a very beautiful region, with great hiking and walking opportunities. The main highlight is the Kykkos monastery, that dates back to the 11-th century.
Troodos mountain range stretches across most of the western side of Cyprus, offering cool sanctuary and idyllic hours spent in long walks in its scented pine forests in summer and winter sports and skiing in winter. There are many famous mountain resorts, Byzantine monasteries and churches on mountain peaks, and nestling in its valleys and picturesque mountain villages clinging to terraced hill slopes. There are 9 churches in Troodos that are counted among Unesco 's World Heritage Sites and several monasteries, of which the Kykkos monastery is the most famous and rich. The nine Byzantine churches are:
- Stavros tou Ayiasmati
- Panayia tou Araka
- Timiou Stavrou at Pelendri
- Ayios Nikolaos tis Stegis
- Panayia Podithou
- Assinou
- Ayios loannis Lampadistis
- Panayia tou Moutoula, and
- Archangel Michael at Pedhoulas
The area has been known since ancient times for its mines, and in the Byzantine period it became a great centre of Byzantine art, as churches and monasteries were built in the mountains, away from the threatened coastline. |
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