Cyprus is a real center of pilgrimage for Orthodox believers. There are about 600 churches on the island, and many different excursions and cultural routes are organized here. At the moment, 12 churches of Cyprus are included in the list of UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites.
One of these temples is the Temple of Our Lady of Ashin in Nikitari. It was erected in the 11th century and houses the richest collection of ancient frescoes and icons. The oldest of them date back to the 12th century. This church, built in the XI century, is included in the UNESCO list of world values and is taken under the protection of the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. The Temple of Our Lady of Ashinu is considered a museum of ancient frescoes and images of saints. The earliest wall paintings in the church date from the 12th century.
In the capital of Cyprus, the divided city of Nicosia, is the famous Cathedral, also known as the Temple of St. John the Divine. It was built in the 17th century on the site of an ancient Benedictine monastery. The Church of the Transfiguration of Christ in Palekhori is also under the protection of UNESCO. This temple, founded in the 16th century, is located in the mountains. And frescoes are also his property. In the mountain village of Palehori there is also another holy place - the Church of Our Lady of Chrysopantanassa. The main icon of this temple of the Golden Tsaritsa belongs to the monuments of painting of the 16th century.
One of the most memorable cultural heritage sites and, concurrently, an Orthodox church in Cyprus is the Church of the Honorable Cross of Agiasmati, located near Platanistas. This is a real church from the times of the Byzantine Empire. It was built in the 15th century, and its interior was painted by one of the recognized masters of those years - Philip Gul.
Unique collections of frescoes and other wall paintings have been preserved in the Church of St. Nicholas in Kakopetria. The Church of Panagia Poditu in Galatea, built at the beginning of the 16th century by the Greek officer Demetrios Coron, is a monument of Byzantine culture. Galatea also houses the Church of St. Sozomen, built at the expense of local residents. Lagudera is home to the Panagia tou Araka Church with frescoes from the 12th century. This object is a real evidence of the development of the archbishop's school, as the highest point in the development of Byzantine art.
