Historic Churches


Saint Lazarus



This stone build church, in the center of Larnaka (St. Lazaros Square), is the most important surviving Byzantine monument of the whole of Cyprus.
Built in 890 by Byzantine Emperor Leo VI, the Wise, on the resting place of St. Lazarus the resurrected friend of Christ. St. Lazarus arrived in ancient Kition on 33 AD becoming its first Bishop and Patron Saint. His tomb lies under the sanctuary and can be visited. In Frankish times 13-16th centuries) a stone build covered shed (stoa) of Gothic style was added on its south side. The 3 imposing domes of this Orthodox Basilica Church were destroyed with the original belltower probably in the first years of the Ottoman rule (1571 AD), but the bell-tower was rebuild in a different style in 1857 and after the Ottomans allowed bell towers on Cyprus churches again. In Frankish times the Church belonged to the Catholics, but in 1589 the Ottomans sold it back to the Orthodox, as they had no intension of turning it into a Mosque because of its Christian cemetery. The brilliant Byzantine art of the icons and the unique baroque woodcarving of the golden surfaced iconostas were completed in 1782. Icon painter Hadjimicael completed the iconography of the iconostas in 1797. Some furniture in woodcarving and some icons on the walls are of the 17th century.


Saint George Makris

This delegate miniature piece of late Byzantine architecture is probably of the 12th Century. It is built on a hill along the Phaneromeni Avenue and is the church of the medieval village Agrinou. The village and the church were destroyed by the Egyptian Mameluks, who invaded in 1426 and also captured the Luzignian King Janos,. The church was soon repaired, the king was let free, but an annual tax was paid to the Mameluks till the Ottoman occupation. In the 18th – 19th centuries the church served as a monastery, but the annexed structures were demolished in the 20th century thus restoring the original setting of the picturesque church. A wall painting of the Saint survives till now on the north wall.


Saint George (Kontos)

The present church and convent of Saint George Kontos is of 1833, but historical sources mention that the church existed at the spot since the 15th century. Some of the icons of the church are dated in 1685 and 1695 confirming the fact that the church existed in the 17th century. The surrounding structures are of 1922 and the monument at the entrance is in honor of the historic Mayor of Larnaka and Member of the Colonial Parliament Dr. Philios Zanettos, who died in exile imposed by the British in 1924. A new church opposite the old was built in 1987 at the exit of Larnaka in the direction of Nicosia. 


St. John’s (the old Bishopric)

The church is known to have existed during the Frankish period (13-16th centuries AD). It served as the town’s Bishopric till the middle of the18th century. The present church was built in 1715 and renovations took place in 1853. It is well known for its elegant and unique bell tower, which was reconstructed in the 19th century and it is one of the most artistic on the island. The wood engraved iconostas is of 18th century. 


Church of the Savior

The Metropolitan church of Larnaka was first founded in 1460. In the 1760’s the Bishopric of Kition was moved here and the church was renovated in 1854. The nicely wood engraved Bishopric throne is of 1783. An icon of Mary with the Child, in Latin style, painted in the 1870’s by Cypriot national poet Vasilis Michaelides, is kept in the church. In the mid 20th century a new building was made to house the Bishop of Kition. From Medieval times till 1973 the Bishop of Kition administered Larnaka and Limassol, as well. The church is at Metropolis Square on Nikodemou Mylona Street. 


Panayia Chrysopolitissa

Its foundation goes back in the Byzantine times, when a source of the Kition Bishopric mentions its existence in the 12th and 13th centuries. Writings from the archives of the Greek College of Rome confirm that the church had this name in 1638. In 1765 the church is destroyed and was rebuild in its present form in 1768. In 1851 was renovated again and also acquired the present wood engraved, but gold surfaced iconostas. Many of the icons are 16th and 17th century as most of its ecclesiastical furnishing. Situated at the corner of Archie Bishop Kyprianou and Crysopolitissas streets, on a hill, which was the prehistoric cemetery of the ancient town (12-13th centuries BC). Chrysopolitissa stone church is devoted to Virgin Mary of the “golden-town”, because the prehistoric and rich tombs on this hill were full of gold jewelry and this quarter was known in medieval times as “gold-town” or Chryssopolis. Its elegant belltower, recently restored, is of the 19th century.
 

Franciscan Convent of Terra Santa

This is the church of the Latin community in Larnaka. Franciscan monk Callixte Martel founded the church and the convent in 1596 mainly for hosting Latin pilgrims to the Holy Land. In 1724 another bigger church and convent replaced the first, which were demolished again in 1842 to be replaced by the present church structures. The convent is also known as Santa Maria delle Grazie and its Latin style is one of the best in Cyprus with Renaissance and baroque characteristics. It is on Apostole Mathieu Street, at a short distance from Chrysopolitissa church. The Terra Santa church and its catholic nuns of Italian origin have a long tradition of philanthropic services to the community of the town. They are now running a home for the elder built at the place of the 19th century convent in 1970. 


St. Joseph’s Convent and Catholic Church “St. Joseph de l’ Apparition”

French emigrants in Cyprus (Conde Brunoni family) founded the convent and the church in 1844. With a beautiful Latin architecture its history and style impose on the nearby Parides Square. The sisters of this French Convent have a long history of philanthropic services and an invaluable contribution in the education of the city’s young girls, as the convent’s secondary school for girls operated from 1845 till the late 1980’s. The convent was famous for its hospital, which was started by Doctor Joseph Irenee Foblant and sister Sophie Ghambon in the late 19th century and successfully operated till 1922. In front of the church there is a small metal monument devoted by the town to sister Ghambon for her invaluable services.


 Panagia Phaneromeni

A small elegant church of the early 20th century devoted to Virgin Mary on Phaneromeni Avenue. The present structure has replaced a medieval church on the same spot. The cave underneath served as an early Christian church. This cave was originally a royal monolithic tomb of the town’s prehistoric times, probably Mycenaean Greek. Today a larger Church is built near the older to serve the expanding community of the parish. 


Other Places of Worship

In Larnaka you can worship your God, no matter a Christian Anglican, Armenian, Evangelical, Catholic, Orthodox or Moslem. The Anglican worship at St. Helena’s church at Ag. Elenis Street (tel 24622327), the Armenians at Saint Stefan’s church, Armenian Church Street (tel. 24654435), the Evangelists at Apostolidou-Lenas Street (tel.24657057, 24652331), the Catholics at Terra Santa church (tel.24652858), Orthodox in the numerous Orthodox churches in town, which have regular Services every Sunday 8-9+30am. The Moslems can worship at the historical Beyuk Mosque, Ankara Street, opposite the Larnaka Castle, which is also open for prayers on a regular and daily basis.

Historic Mosques


Hala Sultan Tekke

This historic Mosque is 3klm west of Larnaka on the road to Kiti, passing the Larnaka airport, on the central salt lake. It is connected with the first Arab attempt to occupy Cyprus in the year 648 AD. The Arab armies landed successfully in Larnaca, but the Holy Helper and Aunt of Mohament, Umm Haram died here as a result of an accident. Grand Khalif Moavia, who was taking part in the expedition, immediately ordered the construction of a Mosque on the spot, which is now considered to be the fourth most important religious place in the world for the Muslims and the first most important religious place for the Turkish Cypriots. The Mosque was renovated in 1816 to look as it is today. In the year 2002 a new renovation and reconstruction was undertaken by UNOPS. Extraordinary archaeological excavations in the same year revealed that the place was inhabited since Neolithic times. Some archaeologists believe that the tomb of Umm Haram is a monumental monolithic tomb of the prehistoric period of the place (1700 – 1050 BC).


The Touzla Mosque

 It is near the Metropolis Square and the Church of the Saviour, on Metropolitou Nicomedias Street and it is one of the oldest buildings surviving in the town. It was turned into a Mosque after the Ottoman occupation of 1571. Before that it used to be the Catholic Church of the Holy Cross (S. Croce) built in the 12th or13th century. Perhaps this church was founded as an Orthodox Church of Basilica type, but, as can be observed, one of its characteristic three corridors was demolished. Its Byzantine origin is also indicated by recently discovered Byzantine wall paintings. The minaret is built on the foundation of the bell tower. Opposite this mosque an elegant stone built public water fountain of Venetian period exist (1489-1570 AD). It survives in a very good condition and on the side of the mosque it is decorated with an engraved sun – clock in Latin characters. According to historical sources the Venetian governor’s building was nearby.


Beyuk or Kebir Tzami

It is situated at the end of Athens Avenue, just opposite the Larnaka Castle. Beyuk mosque is perhaps the first Ottoman mosque in Cyprus. The Ottomans landed their armies in Larnaka in 1570 without any Venetian resistance. The Venetians resisted the Ottoman armies only in Nicosia and Famagusta. Having Larnaka as their supply and naval base the Turks conquered the whole of the island in1571. Before it became a Mosque, Beyuk Tzami was a Catholic Church devoted to Santa Katerina and it was probably built in the 13th - 14th century. The oldest reference of its existence is found in the 1747 document of Bekir Pashia donor, of the Larnaka Aqueduct, where it is specified that a public fountain there should receive water from his aqueduct. This public fountain survives outside the Mosque until today.


Zuhuri

This Mosque lies between the Beyuk Mosque and the Church of St. Lazarus on Nicolaou Rossou Street. It was built in the middle of the 19th century as a Muslim religious center. Its minaret collapsed in the 20th century.