Fiti Village

History

The small, traditional village of Fyti can be found off the E712, about 20 kilometres from Polis. Due to an altitude of 680 metres, Fyti’s summers are cooler than the low-lying surrounding villages. Average rainfall is about 640 millimetres, which makes the cultivation of vines, vegetables, cereals and fruit trees ideal.

In 1881 the population totalled about 225. More recently in the 2001 census, this number had dwindled to just 97. Walking around the village there is evidence of renovation work taking place on some of the old stone houses and this will increase the population as more and more ex-patriates aspire to live in a traditional house in a peaceful, rural village.

So where does the name ‘Fyti’, ‘Fiti’, ‘Phyti’ or ‘Fioti’ originate? According to local folklore the village has been in existence since medieval times and at the start of the 19th century was a spiritual and educational centre. Children from the surrounding villages would come to Fyti’s school to study and ‘foito’ is the Greek verb for study, hence the name. Sadly, the village school with its two schoolteachers closed down in 1985 as there were only 20 pupils in attendance.

At the heart of Fyti is the paved square where you can relax in one of the two taverns of the village. The Phyti Village Tavern at 200 years old is probably the oldest building in the village and was formerly a boys’ school. If you’d like to sample their fantastic Sunday lunch, you need to call Maria to book a table, as it is extremely popular with villagers and tourists alike. Across the road from here is the Fiti Pefkos Restaurant, which takes its name from the old pine tree standing at its entrance. The walls of the indoor seating area of the Pefkos Restaurant are adorned with colourful textiles called fythkiotika (more about this later).

Next to the Pefkos Restaurant is a bronze bust in memoriam to the village’s benefactor, Constantinos Foitides, who brought water to the village in 1938. He brought the water from a spring belonging to the Holy Monastery of Panagia Chrysorrogiatissa (Our Lady of the Golden Pomegranate) and transferred it to the village. Up until that time, Fyti was supplied with water by wells. The garden encompassing the memorial is awash with terracotta pots full of marjoram, basil and colourful flowers, and walnut and pine trees shade the wooden benches. There’s also a stone fountain and an old, preserved olive press in the garden.

Next to the memorial is the Fyti Museum of Weaving and Folkloric Art, built in 1947 and housing a display of traditional clothing, farming implements and donkey equipment. Charalambous Mavrellis, a retired schoolteacher, is the curator of the museum and is extremely knowledgeable not just about the village’s weaving tradition but on the general history of the village as well. The main attraction in the museum is the traditional weaving display, including a fully operational spinning wheel – ‘anemi’. The decorated textiles manufactured here are known as ‘fythkiotika’ and the weaving tradition goes back as far as medieval times. The weaving is done making geometrical patterns and each design is representative of some activity. Charalambous’ wife can also be found at the museum producing fythkiotika that are available to buy.

The 19th century church of St. Dimitris, situated in the village square, was constructed in 1857 (check this). The altar screen is dated 1854 and doesn’t look as if it has aged at all, the colours still looking vibrant and fresh. Above the screen is an ornate cross with two green dragons smiling outwards from its base. In the centre of the church is a huge crystal chandelier and from the upstairs balcony you can gaze down on the magnificent splendour of the whole interior. There are many other churches to visit in the area around Fyti: Agios Georgios church is located on the border of Fyti and Anadiou; Agia Marina church is to the southwest of the village; the small chapel of Agios Symeon can be found in elementary school yard. The chapel is actually a circle of stones placed under a turpentine tree. The stones were moved about 40 years ago so that the school’s playground could be built. At the end of the school yard there’s a wooden box containing the saint’s icon.

In the western part of the village is the ruined forester’s mansion with its large arches. This was reputed to be the most expensive house in the village partly due to its unique architecture. Either side of the arches is a long, narrow room with an arched doorway at the end that leads you back into the main room. The room on the left has a large fireplace of which only the top part can be seen due to the debris that has fallen on top of it over the years. The identical room on the right of the entrance may have been the bedroom. At the rear of the building is a large courtyard with an oven and a water basin. Even now the forester’s mansion is an impressive structure and is on the local council’s list of buildings to be restored. Once restored it will be maintained as a cultural centre.

On the way out of Fyti towards Lasa and up a very narrow single-lane track there is a region called ‘Agrikou’. Here you can stumble across an ancient oak tree where the local women would go to wash their clothes. According to a local resident, the women would go inside the tree (yes, it is big enough) and divest themselves of their clothing and then wash with water from the basin adjacent to the tree. The water still runs into the basin from the mountain springs.

Renovation projects planned for Fyti include the replacement of the village’s entire water supply network, the renovation of two, old stone fountains originally constructed in 1900 and the conversion of the old primary school into a community park, community offices, and a multi-purpose area for various events and activities.

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Weaving and Folkloric Art Museum

The building of the Weaving and Folkloric Art Museum is located in the east end of the paved area. It is a very old, reconditioned construction that has been converted into a museum. Inside the Museum you can have the chance to learn about the history of the renowned “Phytkiotiko” decorated textile that is produced only in Fiti in the traditional fashion of the loom (weaving machine). Inside the Museum you can also find and some other traditional tools, used by the village’s previous inhabitants in their various chores, both agricultural and domestic.

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Agios Dimitrios Church

The church of Saint Demetrianos, a 19th century construction (constructed in 1857) as it is recorded on a stone over the church’s north entrance, rises before you. The bell tower, which has twice the height of the church itself, carries two bells and is also made of stones treated with good workmanship.

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Panagia Village

History

Panagia is a mountainous picturesque village in Cyprus, located at an altitude of 900m in the Paphos mountain range, at the outskirts of Paphos forest and just 35 minutes from Paphos International Airport. Archbishop Makarios III, the first president of the Republic of Cyprus, was born in Panagia.

Panagia owes its name to the many churches and monasteries, which are in the village or close to it and which are dedicated to our Blessed Virgin Mary. In the centre of the village there is the ancient church of Panagia Eleousa. One mile east of the village is the chapel of Panagia of Sarkas. Half a mile beyond that was another chapel of Panagia of Karyon. One and a half miles southwest of the village is the famous and picturesque monastery of Panagia Chrysorroyiatissa. Fifteen miles east of the village, through the dense forest of Paphos, is the historic and famous Byzantine Monastery of Panagia of Kykkos. So the village of Panagia village is among five churches dedicated to Saint Mary, from which the village took the name. Many times we can find it by the name “Pano Panagia”, as it’s one of the tallest areas of the Paphos district.

One tradition says that the village was just below its current position, at the location “Pelekaniaka”. The few inhabitants, shepherds then, woodcutters and lumberjacks, were cutting wood from the nearby forest which they used in woodcraft, and manufacturing vessels for kneading bread, and other tools. It is called “Pelekaniaka” because almost all the inhabitants of the village cut wood and produced various household items which they then sold. Bad luck struck however one dreadful night. A terrible earthquake completely destroyed the beautiful village of Pelekaniaka. Today there is a towering cliff, called “the cliff of koukos”, south of the village, and it said that it was directly linked to the destruction of Pelekaniaka. Many years ago, as tradition says, a large part of the cliff tore away due to a strong earthquake and covered the village. A bird says the tradition, wept and warned residents to leave, saying: Pelekaniates you must go because the cliff cracked and it will collapse to swallow you and you will go to Ades.

Today the village is known for its unique wildlife, amongst which is the Mouflon, species which is protected by Cyprus and International laws because it is an endangered species. It is also known for the viticultural zone Vouni Panagias, which is considered by the wine connoisseurs’ in Cyprus as one of the best on the whole island. The historical Chrysoroyiatissa Monastery is nearby. Finally Panagia has a total population of 580.

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Ecclesiastical Treasury Chrysorrogiatissa Monastery

The creation of a treasury for the monastery was made possible in 2001 following an initiative by Abbot Dionysios and a donation by the Leventis foundation. The Treasury keeps valuables like ancient icons (with the oldest dated in the 14th century), crosses, cherubims, Venetian chandeliers (murano), candles, scripts, vestments, metal sticks used by archpriests, trays used for the Holy Communion (with the oldest dated int the 15th century) and a lot of other things.

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Gallery and Conference Center

The art gallery features fifty six artworks by Cypriot and foreign artists. These were bought by Abbot Dionysios during the period 1978-2010. The collection includes works by artists G. Kotsonis, A. Makariou, Chr. Foukaras, Soula Leipsou- Yiangou, Mariam Foukara, Rinos, Andreas Asproftas, G. Kepolas, G. Koumoulos, Savvas Christodoulides, Nikos Efstathiou, Eyanthia Kouma, Ioannides, Lazarou, Irene Athanasiou, Avramides, Demetris Palates, Koullis, Tania Gerhard, Anna Kelogregoriade, E. Adamidou, Thraki, L. Stavrou, Yiolanda, Maria Kotsoni, Christos Daniel, Christos Demetriou, A.M. Karagiannis, Katia, Suzan Kerr, John Wilson, Wipper Gilbert, Hikmat Gregorian and George Syrimis.

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Monastery Panagia Chrysorogiatissa

The monastery is situated in a beautiful location near the village of Panagia and the forest west of Paphos. Founded in 1152 AD by the monk Ignatius, who found Moulia the miraculous image of the Virgin Mary in Paphos and which according to tradition, is painted by Saint Luke. Ignatius moved the picture to the mountain and built the monastery, which was dedicated to the Virgin Chrysorrogiatissa.

The monastery, whose current buildings date from 1770, has a significant collection of icons and treasures. The church is located in the centre of the monastery. The frescoes of more than three centuries will impress you. The image of Christ and the Virgin Mary as painted by St. Luke the Evangelist is in the monastery and is covered by fabrics and silver.

A protection centre of Byzantine and post-Byzantine icons and other such treasures, functioned within the monastery and recently an Ecclesiastical Treasury was built.

In front of the main entrance of the monastery there is a café-restaurant with a magnificent panoramic view.

On August 15 each year an impressive religious ceremony and celebration takes place. The old winery which you can visit on the inside of the monastery, produces, from its own vineyards, some of the best vintage wines of Cyprus.

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Panagia Eleousa Church

Around the 14th century in the northeast of the village of Panagia, a small chapel was built dedicated to Panagia Eleousa of Kykkos. Today the church is under the protection of the Cyprus Archaeological Museum. The church has a length of 40 feet long 16 feet wide and is in basilica rhythm. The church is operated on the following dates: 2 February, 25 March, 15 August, 8 September, 21 November and 26 December. The Virgin Eleousa is considered miraculous mostly towards epidemics and deaths. In the old days when there was an epidemic in the village, Virgin Eleousa would visualize herself to the residents and they had to rap cotton around the church to stop the deaths. This custom still exists. The Virgin Eleousa is celebrated on 15 of August.

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Choulou Village

There are many wonderful sights and memorials for anyone visiting this beautiful historical village of Choulou, such as the many Chapels, the watermill, the lower fountain, Saint George Church, Saint Theodoros Church, the Church of Pantanassas, the mosque, the Ezousa River and the two stone arched bridges. Sights that will quench your thirst for a wonderful day out!

The name of the village comes from the founder and first settler of the area, who was from Syria. It is said that the name “Houlio” was the title that brought officials the Bektashi guild dervishes of Syria.

Another version of the origin is that the founder of the settlement is of a Syrian family: “Goul”, or the Syrian original family of the white genoas’, with the surname “Guli” Later, during the reign of King Peter the 1st Montolif and his family, whose origins were from the south of France.

This was referred to in the chronicles of Leontiou Machaira who was a great writer living in the period between 1360 -1450. He served the Frangous bosses who dwelled on the island during this time. The chronicles of Machaira bring extensive evidence of facts and persons who had direct relations with Choulou of Paphos.

At this time the owners of the land Choulou, John de Montolif and his wife Joanna d’Aleman lived in a palace; which was situated on the land next to the church of the nearby village Panagias of Pantanassa.

We note here that half of the church was built during this era, and was part of the palace. Joanna d’Aleman was young and beautiful when King Peter the 1st between the two young lovers and the feud that it caused between Joanna and King Peters wife Eleonora, a famous song came into being called “Arodafnousas” which is still popular to this day, in and around Choulou.

Some time later, the village became inhabited by Latinas and so became a dual community, Latin and Orthodox. The Orthodox people used the Church of Saint Theodoros, and the Latinos used the Church of Saint George. During the Ottoman invasion, the Turkish people forced the Latinos to leave the village or change their faith to Muslim. They also converted the church into a mosque which remains until today and is in excellent condition.

After the Ottoman period there is no official data found on the population of the village. Information begins to be written again, when the English begin to populate the Island. In the year of 1881 the population of the whole village was 434, in1891 it was 457, in 1901 it was 557, and in 1911 it was 605 habitants. In 1921 and 1931 population was 621 and by 1946 the number was now 820, of which, 703 were Greek Cypriots and 117 were Turkish Cypriots. Both nations cohabited harmoniously until 1964 which is the time when inter communal riots began between the people, and the Turkish Cypriots abandoned the village, after orders from Ankara to have all the TurkishCypriots gather together, from around the various different villages of Cyprus, in order to make them a bigger, stronger community.

This is why, after the census of 1973 the Greek Cypriot inhabitants of the village was around 600 but after 1982, was reduced to just 450.

From this time, the information gathered shows the dramatic population reduction due to urbanization. To this day, the inhabitants of the village are no more than 120 locals, together with a few British Expats who moved permanently to the village. (1359-1369) Choulou was owned by nobleman John de fell in love with her. Due to this relationship Geographical Position Choulou is situated 22 kilometres northeast of the town of Paphos. It is a mountainous area bordering the forests of Paphos. It boasts mild winters and cool summers without humidity, however, due to the mountainous area, there is the occasional snowfall. The altitude from the sea is just 400metres. It is also situated right beside the river of Ezousas.

In the village there are three establishments that are open to guests for overnight stays, one coffee shop, one restaurant and one snack bar, which provide daily refreshments to locals and passersby alike, all situated close together in and around the heart of the village.

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Panagia Pantanassa Church

This Church was built in the 13thcentury with the coming of the Frangous and was the personal belonging of the land owner of Choulou at that time. The interior and its roof from the bell tower and back are covered with murals of icons depicting scenes from the Old and New Testament of the Holy.

Scriptures. The icon of Pantanassa is kept in the shrine and is a masterpiece from the 14thcentury. The murals of Pantanassa are in the loft area and are from the 13-14th represents the tragic story of Arodafnousas with her two children along with the Queen Eleonora. The Epitaph here is one of the most anciently preserved of its kind, it is woven with pure silk.

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Ayios Georgios Church

This small Church was built in the Byzantium style in the 12thcentury A.D. and served the needs of the settlers of that era. It is still in excellent condition with many inner murals saved from this time. This Church still holds a service every Easter Monday.

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Stavros Chapel

This small church is found on a mountain boasting beautiful views of the village, which begins at the foot of said mountain. At the time of Frangous there was an army watch guard in the area, and on this mountain slope there was small cave in which the soldiers of the guard would take shelter. This small Church was renovated in 1970 and has a service every Easter Friday. The lower part of the murals century.

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Ayios Theodoros 8th century Church

Building of the chapel started during 1940 on the ruins of an old church and completed on 1975.

The chapel is dedicated to Panayia Iamatiki (the One that heals) but the name that prevailed is chapel of Panayia Samatziotissa since is build within the region Samatzia close to Forest Park Hotel.

A liturgy takes place at the chapel twice a year, on the Tuesday of Easter Week and on the 31st of August.

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