We’ll explore some of the most famous sites in and near the resort town of Larnaca. Of great pilgrim interest is the Basilica of Agios Lazaros (with relics of Lazarus of the Gospel, “the friend of the Lord”) dated back to the 9th century, the Angeloktisti Church with mosaics from the era of Emperor Justinian (the only one still surviving on the island in-situ), and the Church of Agios Antonios in Kellia. The church in Kellia is one of the most important Byzantine monuments on the island. Originally, it was built in the 9th century as a three-aisled vaulted basilica with a dome. In the course of the centuries, the edifice was reconstructed several times, but part of the frescoes from the 9th, 11th and 13th centuries survives until the present day.  

After breakfast, we will cross into the Northern occupied area to explore the ruins of Salamis, the once largest city of the island. Imposing ruins give a good idea of the magnitude of the city, populated by multitudes at one time. Among them, there was a sizable Jewish community, including a man named Barnabas. Later in life he was a disciple of the Lord and co-laborer of the Apostle Paul. Near the ruined city there is a monastery (now a museum since the occupation in 1974) and the shrine dedicated to the Apostle. Our last visit of the day will be to the Medieval fortifications of Famagusta, the place of fierce battle against the Islamic onslaught in 1571. Prior to that, it served as the Western/Crusader Capital of Cyprus. 

Our first stop today will be in the village of Lefkara, in the area that is known as “old” or “kato” Lefkara. Here, in the middle of nowhere (as the immediate vicinity looks literally like a field) there is a nice littler church dedicated to the Archangel Michael. The church was built in the 12th century and has partially preserved interior frescoes that date back to the same period. Our next stop will be at the church of St. Catherine, better known as the  Royal Chapel. It was built in 1421 by the Lusignan King Janus. It is considered to be one of the most interesting surviving structures from the Frankish Period on the island. The chapel was originally entirely painted, but many of the paintings were destroyed during the course of time. On the eastern façade, King Janus is depicted in a wall painting along with his second wife, Charlotte de Bourbon. Included in the mural decoration of the chapel is a series of coats-of-arms of the Medieval Kingdom of Cyprus, as well as graffiti carved into the frescoed walls. The small church of the Holy Apostles in Pera Chorio was built in the 12 century, during the Frankish dominion of the island. Still, built in a traditional Byzantine cruciform style, it was decorated with frescoes shortly upon the completion of the construction of the church. The frescoes are considered to be a very good representation of the iconography from the Komnenian period. Our last stop will be at St. Demetrius church in the Dali Village. The church is small, but beautifully proportioned domed Byzantine edifice that dates back to the 13th century. Preserved frescoes of the interior are from 1317AD. 

Today we will spend time on the Karpas Peninsula, a National Park of incredible Natural beauty and historical importance. In Antiquity, it was a densely populated area. Vestiges of Paleo-Christian basilicas stand out as true gems of Christian Art and legacy on the Island. We will visit several of them before a lunch break at a restaurant in Agios Philon. Once an important trading harbor and the capital of the entire Peninsula, now it is a relaxed place in the shade of palm trees, next door to the ruins of a 12th century Byzantine church of the same name. After lunch, we will travel further east to visit St. Andreas Monastery, the only Orthodox Monastery that was allowed to remain open by the occupational authorities. It was built on a spot where, according to tradition, a boat with Apostle Andrew docked. Recently, the monastic complex was renovated as a symbolic gesture of improving relations between the divided parts of the island.   

Today we will explore Nicosia, the divided city and the capital of the Republic of Cyprus. Here, we will visit the Archeological Museum, and then after passing through the maze of Medieval streets we will come to the main Cathedral of the island, dedicated to St. John the Evangelist. Next door there is a Byzantine Museum with an incredible collection of icons, frescoes and mosaics that could rival any Byzantine collection, not only of the continental Greece, but certainly the World. (We hope that the Museum will be open by the time of our travel, as at the present time it is still closed due to renovations). Later in the afternoon, we will cross the border (on foot) and will board vans to visit the Monastery of Antifonitis with some of the best Byzantine Art to be found on the island. It also bears deep scars of the war, as some of the frescoes were damaged in an attempt to smuggle them from the island to be sold to western dealers.  

The church of St. Barnabas and Hilarion in Peristerona Village is an 11the century Byzantine church. It has five domes on the roof arranged in the shape of a cross. Rather little has been preserved of its original interior. Most of the wall-paintings date to the 15th and 16th centuries. The church of St. Cyprian and Justina, dedicated to the two early Christian martyrs is the Medieval edifice built during the period of the Frankish occupation of Cyprus. The church is mainly interesting as a pilgrim destination and is an important part of the religious and cultural life of the Orthodox Cypriots. The Monastery of Saint Herakleidios is located near the village of Politiko, near the ancient city of Tamassos. The Monastery is dedicated to Saint Herakleidios, a pupil of the Apostles Paul, Barnabas and Mark, who was ordained by them as the first Bishop of Tamasos. During its long and turbulent history, the monastery was destroyed and rebuilt on a number of occasions. Modern archeological research showed the presence of the Ancient martyrion and ancient basilicas under the modern-day structures. The main katholikon of the monastery adorned with frescoes from the 13th and 16th centuries, and the oldest wooden iconostasis in Cyprus, decorated with heraldic historical beasts and the armory of various Latin knights. Our last stop of the day will be at the Chrysospiliotissa Church, a unique cave hermitage that dates to the 8th or 9th centuries, and perhaps even earlier.   

Our first stop today will be in the village of Monagri for a visit to the monastery of Panayia Amasgous. The monastery was founded at the end of the 11th century but had been destroyed and rebuilt many times. For centuries, it had been left deserted, and its land was rented out by farmers in the area. Out of the original buildings, only the main Katholikon remains.  The original church was built in the 12th century and is adorned with excellent 12th, 13th and 16th century wall paintings. From here on we will proceed to the Monastery of Kykkos, the largest and one of the most beautiful in all of Cyprus. Kykkos Monastery, is known for the Miracle-working Icon of the Mother of God, ascribed to the hand of St. Luke the Evangelist. It is also known for an excellent museum of ecclesiastical art, with the collection of Medieval Byzantine Icons second only to the Byzantine Museum in Nicosia. In the afternoon, we will we will visit the picturesque village of Omodos for some souvenir shopping and wine tasting at the local winery.  

Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to the Larnaca International Airport  (LCA).  Departure back home