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Local PAFOS Itinerary 98 kilometres
Early Christian basilica of Chrysopolitissa, Kato Pafos One of Cyprus’ most important and largest Early Christian basilicas. The basilica is situated in Kato Pafos, not far from the small port and the Castle. It was built as a seven-aisled church in the 4th century and due to its size and its auxiliary buildings it is thought to have been Pafos’ metropolitan church during the early Christian period. The church is associated with the arrival and stay of Apostle Pavlos in Pafos since, according to oral tradition, the Apostle was tied up and beaten on a column that is located to the northeast of the church. The basilica was destroyed by the Arabs in the 7th century but the area continued to function as a place of worship with smaller churches erected on the same site. Beautiful mosaic floors and impressive marble architectural elements survive on the site of the basilica.
Fig. 413. The Church of Agia Kyriaki, Kato Pafos.
Fig. 414. Mosaic floor with Christ’s monogram. Early Christian basilica of Chrysopolitissa, Kato Pafos.
The Church of Agia Kyriaki, Kato Pafos The Church of Agia Kyriaki is built upon the site of the north aisle of the destroyed Early Christian Church of Panagia Chrysopolitissa. Some columns that belonged to the Early Christian church are now incorporated into the walls of the Church of Agia Kyriaki. The Church of Agia Kyriaki was originally a cross-in-square domed church but following later additions and alterations it is now a cruciform church. The Church can be dated to the 15th century. Byzantine Museum of the Holy Bishopric of Pafos The Museum is housed in the area of the Pafos Bishopric and it is considered to be one of the richest and most important museums of Byzantine ecclesiastic art. The Museum’s icon collection is equal in importance to the collection of icons at the Byzantine Museum of the Archbishop Makarios III Foundation in Lefkosia. The icons are dated from the 8th-9th century until the 19th century. Fragments of wall-paintings that originate from various churches in the Pafos District are also exhibited as well as woodcarvings, sacerdotal vestments and other items of ecclesiastic art. The Church of Panagia Chryseleousa, Empa The Church of Panagia Chryseleousa in Empa is located in the centre of the village and it constitutes one of Cyprus’ most important Byzantine monuments. It was built upon the foundations of an Early Christian basilica of which parts of the Holy Bema’s apse still survive. The Church of Panagia Chryseleousa was originally built as a cross-in-square church possibly during the 11th Fig. 416. Panagia Chryseleousa, Empa. century. In the 13th century barrel-vaulted rooms were added onto the north and south sides of the cross’s western part. The western wall was then demolished and a domed narthex took its place. The church preserves some extremely important and artistically valuable wallpaintings that survive in numerous layers and are dated to various chronological periods.
Fig. 415. Mosaic floor with geometric motifs. Early Christian basilica of Chrysopolitissa, Kato Pafos.
178 Fig. 417. The Church of Panagia Chryseleousa, Empa.