4VIP Tour

Thecla (30 AD-circa 120 AD) was a saint of the early Christian Church, an ardent follower of Paul the Apostle and who decided on self-abnegation later in her life. Shielded by divine intervention three times in her life, her martyred remains were interred in Ma'loula, Syria. A Greek Orthodox nunnery of St. Thecla, Deir Mar Takla was built near her cave tomb, and is a pilgrimage site with a holy well. The Holy Monastery of Ayia Thekla, built by St. Helena of the Crosses in the 327 AD is located about 500 metres south of Mosfiloti village in Larnaca District. The holy water issuing from a spring there heals skin problems, including difficult ones like eczema, besides clearing issues with the eyes and the head. It reportedly helps to find a spouse for marriage.

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The Kykkos Monastery, dedicated to the Virgin of Kykkos, is the most famous and rich active Cypriot monastery. Founded high on the northwest face of the Troödos Mountains around end 11th century by a Byzantine Emperor, it carries a potpourri of tales of intrigue, deceit, visions, miracles, and unshakeable faith. It’s most important possession is an icon of the Virgin Mary reputedly painted by Luke the Evangelist. The Virgin’s face is veiled and never revealed. People from all over the world come to the Monastery to the miracle-working Mother of God, asking Her to cure them of some illness or grant them the strength to cope with life’s trials and personal and family problems. They also seek blessings from the relics of the numerous Saints in the Museum, like St. Stefanos, Helena, Lazarus, Barnabas, Aristobulus, Epiphanius and Matrena.

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The Timios Stavros Monastery or the Monastery of the Holy Cross at Omodos holds relics taken directly from Golgotha, the site of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion. The most important is the Great Cross with the Holy Rope. The piece of rope was given by St. Helena on her visit in 327-328 AD. A wooden Cross with a gold and silver-plated cover is placed in a special canopy at the iconostasis, bearing various depictions from the life of Christ. At the centre of the Cross, sheltered by a golden wicket that opens, lies the ‘AGIOS CANNAVOS’ (Holy Hemp-made Rope), also called the ‘AGIO SCHINIO’ (Holy Rope), a piece of the rope that the Romans used to fasten Christ upon the Cross and is stained red with His blood. It is the sole existing piece in the world. This church is a wonder of the World where visitors come to pray, asking for miracles related to family issues, health and happiness.

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The Monastery of the Panagia of Trooditissa in the Troödos Mountains near the village of Plátres, is an orthodox monastery dedicated to the Virgin Mary. In 990 AD, a cave with an icon of the Virgin was discovered but attempts to build a monastery there were foiled by a mysterious power that stopped any water reaching the site and laid to waste every night all that was built in the day. The workers were then led by divine power to a spring close by, a clear sign as to where to build the monastery. Obraz Bozhej Materi Umilenie, an overage, sterile and childless lady, conceived a child in 1864 with the blessings of Virgin Mary and left behind her belt touched by divinity. The silver belt adorns the icon of the Panagia. Today, only prospective mothers and childless wives may visit this icon, pray and put on that belt, taking away the expectation to conceive a child.

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The lives of St. Cyprian, a sorcerer reformed and converted by the Almighty through St. Justina circa 268-304 AD, and her own life history give details in Christian literature of sorcery and its power over men—and its defeat by the power of Christ. Executed in Antioch, an ancient Greek city, but buried in Rome, their remains were hidden in a small village church in Meniko, near Nicosia, in the 13th century. Many were healed by worshipping the relics of the saints, including Cypriot King Peter 1 Lusignan, who had a bigger church built on the site in mid-14th century. Saints Cyprian and Justina have worked many miracles through their intercession for victims of an evil eye or a curse and those suffering from satanic influence, voodoo or black magic. The monastery also hosts the power of St. Spyridon, who confers blessings on those who pray to him for help with their business or tide over difficult financial times.

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The Makheras' monastery was built in 1148 AD by two monks who came across an icon of the Virgin Mary in a cave nearby. Visitors were not really welcome till recently; Orthodox Christian males were just about tolerated by the monks who live there in seclusion, provided they were suitably dressed. Women may not enter the building. Now, the Monastery may accept male visitors staying overnight without cost. You may not get a room and will have to sleep in a cloister. You will find the draft of wind rather sharp and cutting, in whose awe the Monastery was named ‘The Sword’ or Makheras. You are expected to either give the monks a donation, or buy their produce, like honey, wines and liqueurs.

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Also known as Panagia Chrysospiliotissa, it was built in the 17th century in honour of Panayia Khrysospiliotissa, Our Lady of the Golden Cave. This was a catacomb that was reworked to form a large cave within which a Church was erected. The 12th century Byzantine icon of the Virgin Mary of Valana in the Church is believed to have miraculous powers. It is the only Icon in the whole World where women have to pray within a circular miracle spot and then go beneath the icon to receive the fruit of their prayers. Women from around the world come to ask the Virgin for a successful marriage. While such a request may be made at several sites, barren women come to this cave to pray for an issue. Even if medical specialists rule out childbirth for a woman, that woman will conceive after observing the ritual.

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The Church of St. Lazarus, the friend of Christ and the first Bishop of Kition, Cyprus is in Larnaca city. Kition was the name of Larnaca earlier. St. Lazarus Church was built on the sepulchre of the Saint, the first Bishop of Kition. He lived 30 more years here, and was buried for the second and last time. Leo VI, Emperor of Byzantium, erected the magnificent church in Byzantine style some 1,125 years ago. Virgin Mary came to Cyprus, to visit St. Lazarus. She arrived at Kition where She met Lazarus, to whom She presented a bishop's pallium, woven by Her own hands. Having blessed the local Church of Kition, She returned to the Holy Land. Many illnesses were healed and other miracles were performed here owing to the Saint's grace. A spring exists here and its water is considered holy with the power of healing.

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Stavrovouni Monastery is a Greek Orthodox monastery which stands on the top of Stavrovouni hill in Larnaca District; it is sometimes simply known as Stavrovouni. The monastery is one of the only places where one can see a piece of the Holy Cross. The monastery was founded by St. Helena, the mother of Constantine I the Great, in the 4th century. Helena discovered the three crosses on which Jesus and the two thieves had been crucified. She excavated them to take to Constantinople, but left one of these crosses in Cyprus due to a shipwreck. The Holy Cross was transferred by a miracle to the peak of a hill overnight and a strong light emanated from that peak. Helena decided to leave a piece there, and built a small chapel over it. Other relics left behind by Helena include the Cross of the Good Thief and a nail.

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The Chrysoroyiatissa Monastery located near Paphos, at an altitude of 610 metres, was founded in the 1152 AD by a monk called Ignatius who found an icon of the Virgin Mary at Moula, near Paphos and installed it in a monastery and dedicated it to Virgin Mary or the Cypriot 'Our Lady of the Golden Pomegranate'. This icon is thought to be painted by Luke the Evangelist. Inside the monastery there is a variety of religious icons and treasures on display. The statue that attracts the most attention is of Virgin Mary, made of pure silver. On 15th August, a celebration is held in honour of 'Virgin Mary' as it is believed that on this day she did not wake up after she slept. The word death is not used, as 'Our Lady of the Golden Pomegranate' is believed to be in deep sleep, but her other senses and organs, like her heart and brain are still working. This famous church is frequented by those who wish to have a wealthy family and possess great material wealth in their lives.

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The Tombs of the Kings is a large necropolis that is located just outside the walls, to the north and east of Pafos town in Cyprus. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was built during the Hellenistic period (3rd century B.C.) to satisfy the needs of the newly founded Nea Paphos. Its name is not connected with the burial of kings, as the royal institution was abolished in 312 B.C., but rather with the impressive character of its burial monuments. The underground tombs are cut into the native rock, and at times imitated the houses of the living. 4VIP Tour conducts a tour of this site.

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Petra tou Romiou, an unusual geological formation of huge rocks off the southwest coast in the Paphos district and along the main road from Paphos to Limassol forms one of the most impressive natural sites of Cyprus associated with Aphrodite. There are numerous legends correlating this rock formation with Aphrodite. 4VIP Tour have this site on their agenda, as it is a site worth a trip to Cyprus on its own.

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Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, beauty and sensuality, is perpetually cited as being a Cypriot at heart, and also known as Cypris. Aphrodite is also considered the patron of the island. She also has a prominent role in tourism in Cyprus.

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Nea Pafos is situated on a small promontory on the southwest coast of the island. The town was apparently founded at the end of the 4th century B.C. by Nicocles, the last king of Palaipafos. In early 3rd century B.C. when Cyprus became part of the Ptolemaic kingdom, which had its capital in Alexandria, Nea Pafos became the centre of Ptolemaic administration on the island, ultimately becoming its capital. When in 58 B.C. Cyprus was annexed by Rome, Nea Pafos continued to be the capital of Cyprus. After the disastrous earthquakes of the 4th century A.D. the capital was transferred to Salamis, which was then renamed Constantia. Even then however, Nea Pafos dominated the other cities of Cyprus.

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The ancient city-state of Kourion lies in the British Overseas Territory of Akrotiri and Dhekelia but is maintained and administrated by the Republic of Cyprus according to the Treaty of Establishment. The mount of Kourion, on which the ancient city-kingdom developed, occupies a dominant position on the coast 4 km southwest of the village of Episkopi in Limassol district. The earliest evidence of settlement in the broader area of Kourion dates to the Neolithic period (4500-3900 B.C.), whilst the most ancient remains in the area of the ancient city itself are connected with settlements and tombs of the Middle and Late Bronze Age. According to tradition Kourion was founded by Argives in the 13th century BC, during the first wave of the Mycenaean expansion and others followed the Argives in the 12th century as a result of the Dorian invasion of Greece. This site is on 4VIP Tour agenda.

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Khirokitia (sometimes spelled Choirokoitia) is an archaeological site on the island of Cyprus dating from the Neolithic age. It has been listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1998. The site is known as one of the most important and best preserved prehistoric sites of the eastern Mediterranean. Much of its importance lies in the evidence of an organised functional society in the form of a collective settlement, with surrounding fortifications for communal protection. The Neolithic Aceramic period is represented by this settlement and around 20 other similar settlements spread throughout Cyprus. The site was discovered in 1934 by Porphyrios Dikaios, director of the Cyprus Department of Antiquities. For those keen on visiting digs, Khirokitia is a worthwhile excursion in Cyprus.

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Tucked away and nestled in the foothills of the Troodos Mountains in the southeast of Cyprus is a charming village with old stone buildings, cobble stone streets, narrow winding alleys, and a colorful past, Lefkara. This is where the Cypriot folk needlecraft art was born − the famous ‘lefkaritiko’ − the reputation of which has gone beyond the frontiers of Cyprus and has become known in most European countries and beyond. Lefkara owes its welfare and prosperity to this needlecraft and to its trade launched in the late 19th century, flourishing during the first thirty years of the 20th century.

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