Author: cconstantinou

The Church of the Holy Cross, built in 1902, is situated near Pafos Gate, one of the three entrances into the town through the Venetian walls surrounding Lefkosia (Nicosia). The church does not belong to any definite architectural style, and its features are austere. A rose window (decorated circular window) with the cross of Jerusalem in stained glass can be seen in the façade, whilst below the rose window, there is the coat-of-arms of the Custody of the Holy Land.

The Hamam Omeriye (Turkish) baths were built in the 16th century by Lala Mustafa Pasha as a gift to the city, with the bath complex dedicated to the Caliph Omer, giving the area its name of ‘Omeriye’.

After a long period of closure, the baths were once again restored to their original glory, earning them the ‘Europa Nostra’ award in 2005, and are open to the public for steam baths and other treatments.

As is typical with Ottoman baths, there are three main areas: the changing and resting room that leads to the warm and hot chambers via an intermediate tepid area. In ancient times, exposure to hot and humid conditions was a prized remedy for general health and formed part of a cleansing ritual.

Located within the walled city of Lefkosia (Nicosia) on Onasagorou Street, Faneromeni Church is one of the largest churches of the capital, and was built in 1872. The marble mausoleum to the east of the church contains the relics of the bishops and priests executed by the Ottomans on July 09, 1821. Opposite the church is Faneromeni School, one of the most historic academic institutions on the island.

Located next to OCHI Market, this Ottoman mosque is built on the western end of Constanza Bastion, in honour of the flag carrier who first climbed on to the walls of Lefkosia (Nicosia) during the siege of the city by the Ottoman troops in 1570.

Its name derives from the Turkish word ‘bayrak’, meaning ‘flag’ or ‘military trophy’, with the flag carrier’s grave built on the spot later in 1764. The mosque itself dates back to 1820, and was restored and opened for worship in late 2003.

The New Archbishopric – the seat of the Cyprus Orthodox Church – was built in 1960 in a Neo-Byzantine style and contains the private suite of the late Archbishop Makarios III. The Old Archbishopric that stands alongside it was built in 1730 and houses the Ethnographic Museum of Cyprus on its ground floor.

Located along the Lefkosia (Nicosia) – Anthoupolis Road, the church of the convent dates back to the Byzantine period and was founded by Archbishop Nikiforos, whose tomb can be seen in the narthex of the church. It was rebuilt in 1636 and was ceded to Kykkos Monastery in 1713.

The iconostasis dates back to 1650, whilst the convent has a 1785 fresco depicting the Archangel Michael (Archangelos Michael) whom it is dedicated to. Today the convent houses the Kykkos Monastery Research Centre.

Agios Ioannis, within the walled city of Lefkosia (Nicosia), is built on the site of the 14th century chapel of the Benedictine Abbey of Agios Ioannis, the Evangelist of Bibi.

Archbishop Nikiforos rebuilt the monastery chapel from its foundations in 1662. Dedicated to Agios Ioannis the Theologian, it remained a monastery until the 18th century when Archbishop Sylvester converted it into a cathedral, establishing it as the seat of the Orthodox Archbishopric in Cyprus.

The church is small, single-aisled and barrel vaulted, in the Franco-Byzantine style, with external buttresses and a west portico. In contrast to the deliberately modest exterior that was required by Ottoman rule, the gilded woodwork and bright interior illuminated by crystal chandeliers is particularly ornate. Covered in gold leaf, the woodcarving is in the best tradition of 18th century Cypriot craftsmanship, and it remains the only church in Lefkosia in which the whole of the internal Frescoes have survived in their entirety.

The four large icons on the iconostasis were painted by the Cretan master, Ioannis Kornaros in 1795 and 1797, and the 18th century wall paintings depict scenes from the Bible and the discovery of the tomb of Agios Varnavas (St. Barnabas) at Salamis.