Expedition at Xyliatos-Kapoura route, Pitsilia area, Nicosia Part 4

Expedition at Xyliatos-Kapoura route, Part 4 

As we continued our expedition inside the Kapoura route we came across another view point. This time though we had in front of us the beautiful Morfou bay! We parked our cars and admired the view for a few moments and a little later we continued our journey which was at its final stage. 

Little did we know that a few minutes later the fog would cover the whole scenery! As we were approaching the village of Saint Irene towards Kannavia the fog surrounded us and we had to drive carefully. Fortunately our Seat Ibiza was properly equipped for the occasion!  

We drove through Saint Irene to Kannavia village and then to Kyperounta near the crossroad leading to Troodos mountains. It was an unforgettable expedition indeed which we highly recommend!  

Expedition at Xyliatos-Kapoura route, Pitsilia area, Nicosia Part 3

Expedition at Xyliatos-Kapoura route Part 3

As we went deepest and deepest into the forest following the Kapoura route we thought it was time to rest for a while. As we walked around the area we heard the sound of water and immediately we started searching for a river. 

A few moments later we found a small river running on the side of the road that we could barely see. So we had to climb carefully down the small cliff to get a better view.

Once we got there we took our time to admire the beautiful scenery with bizarre rocks, high trees, and the river in the middle, all very colorful and calming!

As we noticed the river runs through the forest  along the way but we are not sure where it ends. If you follow our route make sure to look for the river as it is a very beautiful one!

Expedition at Xyliatos-Kapoura route, Pitsilia area, Nicosia Part 2

Expedition at Xyliatos-Kapoura route

As we entered the country road of Kapoura, located on the right side of the road as you are heading towards Saranti, we did not know what to expect. 

The road was not bad but often we had to step down and remove big rocks which blocked our way since one of the cars we had was not a SUV. 

Soon after we found the first couple of locations were someone can see the town of Nicosia very clearly and take nice photos. 

We parked our cars for a while to admire the view of Nicosia but see some beautiful flowers too as were about to enter deeper into the forest! 

Expedition at Xyliatos-Kapoura route, Pitsilia area, Nicosia Part 1

Expedition at Xyliatos-Kapoura route

It was a beautiful Sunday morning and we decided with some friends to travel the route from Xyliatos dam towards Kapoura. 

The Kapoura route is well known as it usually used for the Cyprus rally but there are many different points to go in and out. 

Our first stop was the Xyliatos dam which we have visited many times in the past. We were more than happy to see that the winter and spring rains filled the dam to its maximum level! It was a beautiful scenery marking the course of the day! 

Our next stop was the medieval bridge just before the "Vrysi tis Shyftis", a very old water source on the way to Saranti village.  The bridge is hidden under a newer one which leads to the Church of "Stavros Agiasmati" on the other side of the mountain. 

Beautiful flowers covered the area around and we wondered for a while in admiring the scenery. 

A little later we even spotted a very old building, probably a safe house or barn, which was destroyed and covered with plantation, a sign of another era were locals used to visit the area to hunt or feed their animals. 

Now it was time for us to move as a few minutes away we would enter the Kapoura route for the very firs time!

Sunset at Alambra village, Nicosia, Cyprus

Sunset at Alambra village

On our way back to Nicosia after our trip at Saint George Alamanos we decided to pay a visit to a friend who lives at the village of Alambra. 

Alambra is not a small village and it is found very easily if you take the Nicosia-Limassol highway. We arrived near sunset and it seems we were very lucky that day. 

The colors in the sky were a mixture of purple, orange, red, blue and yellow and the sun was hidden behind the clouds. Our position at the time was opposite the main Church of Alambra just before the entrance of the village. 

The scenery was simply magic and all we could do is stop and admire this unique event! 

Snow in Cyprus - Driving from Lagoudera to Agros village, Pitsilia area

Snow in Cyprus - Driving from Lagoudera to Agros village

After we left Lagoudera village we continued our trip around the snowy mountains of Madari towards Agros village. Enjoy the second video of our tour! 

Snow in Cyprus - Driving from Polystypos to Lagoudera village, Pitsilia area, Nicosia

Snow in Cyprus - Driving from Polystypos to Lagoudera village

Our first expedition in the snowy mountains of Pitsilia area. This video was taken while driving from Polystypos village towards Lagoudera village at Madari mountains. 

The scenery simply magic! Enjoy! 

Snow at Livadia village, Pitsilia area, Nicosia

Snow at Livadia village, Pitsilia area, Nicosia 

It was a great Sunday morning and we could not miss the chance to visit the snowy villages on the mountains.

We begun our tour from Nicosia and after we passed Agrokipia and Mitsero village we turned left and took the road towards Livadia village.

Livadia is a small village in the Nicosia part of Madari mountains which we have visited in the past but not when there was snow.

This time we were glad to see much of the village and the surrounding mountains dressed in white! We stopped for a while and walked around the village taking pictures. We visited also the Church of Agia Paraskevi which we found closed.

The scenery was simply beautiful and the house roof tops still in white. We did not see many locals but probably they stayed home enjoying the company of a fireplace!  

Nicosia view outside the Monastery of Saint Panteleimon Acheras, Agrokipia village, Nicosia

Nicosia view outside the Monastery of Saint Panteleimon Acheras

Our last visit at Saint Panteleimon Acheras at Agrokipia village was one of our first stories (see story here) and we will definately go again soon.

This is a picture we took on that tour, showing here the valley beneath Agrokipia towards Malounta village and Nicosia with Pentadaktylos mountain at the back.

A Miracle of Saint Helen at Saranti village, Pitsilia area, Nicosia

A Miracle of Saint Helen at Saranti village

On our last visit at Saranti village, Pater Christodoulos (the local priest) showed us the 16th century Church of the village of Saints Constantine and Helen (see story here)

While we were there he told us a story that happened very recently about a miracle Saint Helen performed.

A young woman from the village had cancer a few years back. Her faith was deep and she was praying to Saint Helen to help her get better. Saint Helen appeared on her dream and told her that she would soon get better because she was a true believer. She also told the woman she wanted something in return.

Once the woman recovered a few months later, Saint Helen appeared again on her dream and asked her for the return. She told her that her Church was not baptized (a ceremony performed on all Christian Churches) and she wished that this was done soon. The woman told Saint Helen's wish to the local priest at the time. The priest was probably scared to check if that was true since it was uncommon for such an old Church not to be baptized.

So they called for the Bishop of Morfou area, where the Church belongs too, to verify. The Bishop indeed confirmed what the woman told them about Saint Helen's request.

In 2005 the ceremony was performed and the Church of Saint Constantine and Helen is now baptized as it should have been centuries ago!

Holy Relics of Saint Filippos, Latsia, Nicosia

Holy Relics of Saint Filippos

It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon and we decided to spend the day in Nicosia.

For the past few days we have been discussing to visit the Church of Saint Filippos at Latsia. The reason was that the Holy Relics (Kara) of Saint Filippos would be in display for just a few days.

Thus we drove to Latsia area which is just outside Nicosia towards Limassol.

It was the first time we visited the Church of Saint Filippos and also the first time to see the Holy Relics. At the time we arrived it was not crowded but people kept coming at the Church to pray and see the Holy relics.

The Church of Saint Filippos at Latsia is the only one in Nicosia dedicated to the Saint and one of the three in the Cyprus. The memory of the Saint is celebrated on November 14th and marks the beginning of the fasting season for the Christmas period.  

The Church of Saints Constantine and Helen, Saranti village, Pitsilia area, Nicosia

The Church of Saints Constantine and Helen, Saranti village

Saranti village is definitely one of our favorite destinations for all sorts of reasons. It wasn't though until very recently that we found another one.

The local priest-Pater Christodoulos, gave us the opportunity to visit the small Church of the village that is dedicated to Saint Constantine and Saint Helen. The story of the two Saints is very well known especially in Cyprus as they passed from our island, on their way back to Byzantium ,from their visit to the Holy Places to recover the Cross that Jesus Christ was crucified.

The Church as we were told dates back to the 16th century! It looks more recent though due to the renovation that took place in the 1960's.

Inside one can clearly see some of the well preserved wall paintings one of which is of the two Saints holding the Holy Cross! The template is wooden craft with some old and some new images of Saints.

If you happen to visit the village or you are in the area we suggest a visit at this beautiful Church!

In order to visit the Church one must find Pater Christodoulos who lives in the village.

A visit at Agios Therapon Church, Lythrodontas, Nicosia

A visit at Agios Therapon Church

It was October 29 and we decided to visit the village of Lythrodontas outside Nicosia towards Limassol and the Church of Saint Therapon.

The Holy Relics of Saint Therapon were on display and 3 day festivities, called "Panygirin" took place. This year we were invited by our friend Dina, who grew up in Lythrodontas, to visit the Church of Saint Therapon and see the Holy relics in display.

We arrived around 21:00 at the Church at the center of the village. As we were told this was the new Church, as an older one dedicated again ot Saint Therapon is found further down the street.

The Church is surely one of the biggest we have seen in villages around Cyprus so far! The festivities each year in the memory of Saint Therapon gather a lot of people and we witnessed just that during the time we've spent there.

Saint Therapon was a Bishop in Cyprus and is a Saint who performed many miracles by curing sick people. The name Therapon comes form the word "therapia" which is synonymous with the word cure in the Greek language.


 

Nicosia view

Nicosia view

As we left Saranti village heading for Agros, and feeling no pressure to end our trip soon, we made several stops in between.

Just as we came to the cross road were you can either go straight to reach Chandria  village or left to Agros we made our first stop on the left side.

On that spot you can see amazing view of Nicosia and depending on the weather conditions the scenery can be very dramatic on autumn and winter.

The day was clear and the clouds along with the autumn colors made the view simply amazing! A recommended spot indeed for day or night.

The Church of "Panagia Faneromeni" at Nicosia

The Church of "Panagia Faneromeni" at Nicosia

The Church of Panagia Faneromeni in Nicosia is one of the must visit places within the city walls.

It's history dates back centuries ago but the Church was rebuild and renovated many times mainly due to the damages from the conquerors that passed from Cyprus.

The original icon of Holy Mother-Faneromeni dates back to the 14th century! The name Faneromeni means "the one who appeared".The icon is on public display only on important celebrations.

Very few wall paintings can be found inside and they date back to 1929. The wooden temple though is much older dating back to the 18th-19th century and some of the icons are from the 16th century.

The Church is open every day for visitors. It still operates though normally as a place of worship and one can watch a service whenever there is one.

Autumn mountain view, Saranti village, Pitsilia area, Nicosia

Autumn mountain view

It was the last weekend of September and we decided to take a short trip to the mountains.

We passed from the Xyliatos dam on our way to Saranti village. The clouds above us were the first sign that the weather was changing from summer to autumn. The temperature was already significantly lower than in Nicosia.

As we reached the beautiful village of Saranti the scenery was getting better and better. We parked the car and continued on foot for a short tour around the village.

The autumn colors of brown, red and yellow were already mixing with the green making the view from where we stood simply amazing!

What a nice way to enjoy a Sunday afternoon! 

Sunset at Nicosia

Sunset at Nicosia

Sunsets are always beautiful in Cyprus but in autumn you always get amazing colors with the dramatic effect the clouds give.

Such a sunset we witnessed a few days ago in Nicosia. The sky was cloudy and the yellow color turning to orange was becoming purple and velvet though the clouds!

Simply beautiful!

Celebration of the Holy Cross at the Church of "Stavros Agiasmati", Platanistasa village, Pitsilia area, Nicosia

Celebration of the Holy Cross at the Church of "Stavros Agiasmati"

On Sunday we decided to visit one of the oldest Churches in Cyprus and one of the 10 in the area of Troodos that belong to the UNESCO Heritage Program.

It was a unique chance to see the beautiful Church of "Stavros Agiasmati" from the inside, as it is usually closed. The Church is located near the village of Platanistasa in the area of Pitsilia inside the mountains.

Every year at the Church is open for the celebration of the Holy Cross on September 14.

The Church has wonderful wall paintings inside and outside! The paintings mainly show the life of Jesus on earth as well as images of Saints. On the outside one can see Saint Constantine and Helen who recovered the Holy Cross from Jerusalem and passed from Cyprus on their way back to Constantinople.

On the inside one can also see the original wooden seats of the Church, and symbols on the stone floor similar to the ones on the Church of "Timios Stavros" at Pelendri village!!

Like us, many others have traveled from all over Cyprus to pray and see the Church as well.  A visit is highly recommended!

Video from the Service for the Birth of Holy Mother, Panagia Araka, Lagoudera, Nicosia

Video from the Service for the Birth of Holy Mother

This video shows the final part of the Service for the celebration of the Birth of Holy Mother at the Church of "Panagia Araka" at Lagoudera village on Sunday September 7 2014.

After the icon was taken out of the Church for "Litania" it was placed on a podium and the Service continued for 10 more minutes.

Celebrating the Birth of Holy Mother at the Church of Panagia Araka, Lagoudera village, Pitsilia area, Nicosia

Celebrating the Birth of Holy Mother at Lagoudera

On Sunday, September 7, we decided to visit the Church of Panagia Araka at Lagoudera village and watch the Service for the celebration of the Birth of Holy Mother!

We arrived at the Church around 6 o'clock in the afternoon and already many people started gathering.

Soon after the Bishop of Morfou area, that the Church belongs too, arrived and prepared for the Service.

By then the Church was full of people and many many more were sitting outside. We estimate that more than 300 people must have gathered to watch the Service!

About an hour later it was time to take the icon of Holy Mother outside the Church for "Litania" ( walking the icon around the Church and people pass underneath).

The icon was then placed outside the Church on a podium and the Bishop and priests continued the Service for a little longer.

After the Service was over people would take place to kiss the icon of Holy Mother and get a blessing.

The Birth of Holy Mother is celebrated each year on September 8 and the Church of Panagia Araka celebrates that event most of all others in Christianity.