in the footsteps of saint paul in pafos
Transcription
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:[email protected], 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 1 B A C D Cyprus was the first country in the world to have been ruled 2 by a Christian governor, whose St.Paul’s Entry Point B seat was in Pafos, the capital 63 ★ St.Paul’s Entry Point C of the island in antiquity. C St.Paul’s Entry Point A 65 ★ 3 64 F S 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 # REF NAME # REF NAME # 14 27 33 34 35 37 39 40 B4 D3 C3 C2 B3 C4 E3 C1 42 43 44 48 C2 B4 C3 B4 52 54 56 57 B3 D4 B4 C2 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 O 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 I C St.Paul’s Pillar 4 Y P R U S 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 S A I N T P A U L A 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. 1 A 3 2 I R R I V A L N P A F O S A 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 T 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 S A I N T P A U L ’ S T A 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. D 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. 2 1 3 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. 8 7 5 4 1 4 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. 6 5 6 7 8 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. 2 3 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.