Karpas Peninsula Cyprus
The area is rich in subterranean water reservoirs and thus crops such as tobacco are grown in abundance. Another main source of income in the region is fishing. Boğaz and Kumyalı are the fishing centres in the Karpas.
Moreover, numerous picturesque beaches, both sandy and rocky, are said to be the best in the whole island. With also pine, cypress and maquis covered hills reaching an altitude of about 1,000 metres makes the Karpaz region almost a perfect natural reserve site of the whole island.
Karpas peninsula is also almost totally free from heavy concentration of industry and people, and is one of the least polluted regions in the European periphery. Escaping the last ice age, the island of Cyprus has managed to retain a substantial amount of biological diversity with a significant amount of endemic species -plant species number about 1,600 (22 endemic); bird species about 350 (7 endemic); and there are 26 reptile and amphibian species for most of which the Karpas is the natural home
The church is just outside Boltasli Village. Archaeologists claim that there used to be two churches at this spot, one of which used to belong to the Byzantine population. The mosaics of this church are world famous, for the rumors about the burglary.
The castle the remains of which are on a hill close to the sea is thought to have been constructed for the purpose of defending the region against raids from the sea in the Middle Bronze Age. The war between Hittite and Egypt in this period had affected Cyprus as well.
The architecture of the castle resembles the styles of those constructed by the Hittites in Anatolia. It is four sided and the entrance and the walls have been fortified with towers. Big ashlars have been used in its construction. It has a courtyard in the
The 5th century Basilica, situated near Sipahi Village on the Karpaz peninsula, was discovered in 1957 by chance. It includes a nartex, an atrium, and additional rooms. The mosaics are full of leaf and cross figures.
Ayios Thrysos church built in the 15th century is white-washed, with no fresco, and empty except for a few wooden pews and the shell of the iconostasis. Lower down, close to the shore, is a smaller ruined medieval chapel, and beside it to the right side is an even smaller cave church probably Byzantine. Very nice shelter from the hubble-bubble of the towns where you can enjoy ancient history with blue sea end refreshing breeze.
 
These two ancient unfinished statues are close to the ruined Byzantine church Ayia Marina. 400 mt. before the Theresa Hotel, in opposite of the Ayios Thrysos church, turn towards the country side. In this area you can also find thief and smuggler digged Bronze Age tombs scattered all over the area.
Ruins of ancient marina, tombs from Hellenistic period and a fortress from the Lake Greek period can all be seen at the site of Aphrendika which used to be one of the six major towns in Cyprus in the 3rd century. The other two, namely Panagia Chrysiotissa and Pnagia Asomatos, were built in the Romanesque style in the 12th century.
 
Ayios philon church, built in the 5th century, is the sole remnant of the ancient Phoenician city of Karpasia which used to be a marketplace between Salamis and Anatolia.
The city which was constructed during the Neolithic period is one of the oldest settlements in all of Cyprus. The findings suggest that the inhabitants during the Neolithic period were fishermen and farmers. As a result excavations, needles, and other utensils made of bones have been found at Kastros.
This is one of the pilgrimage centres of Orhodox Church of Cyprus, and is at the tip of the Karpas peninsula. It was once the Lourdes of Cyprus, served not by an organized community of monks but by a changing group of volunteer priests and laymen.
The monastery is found at the very tip of the Karpaz Peninsula, on Cape Zafer. Apostolos Andreas, who originally was a follower of St. John the Baptist, was called for Jesus Christ to spread Christianity. This monastery is accepted to be sacred by both Turkish and Greek Cypriots.
Monasterias and monastic life evolved to reflect and meet the needs of those Christians who set store by living their lives in isolation and away from earthly things. Island, by definition, offered ideal locations for monastic life. Cyprus was no exception, attracting monks to settle and build monasteries here, and the Apostolos Andreas Monastery is among the most significant in many respects.
 
Having fallen into the hands of the Byzantine Empire. The population of Cyprus became mostly Christians, - Orthodox specifically. Moreover, the island occupied a strategic point in the map of the Crusades, which rendered it significant for the Christian brothers. Over the centuries many churches and monasteries were built here.
One of the centres pilgrimage of the Orthodox World, the apostolos Andreas Monastery stands at the tip of the Karpas Peninsula, reaching towards Iskenderun Bay. The road Iying parallel to the sea along the North coast, and the road starting from Mağusa from the South become one in the İskele village, leading visitors directly first to Yenierenköy, then Dipkarpaz and finally the Monastery. The winding road ultimately brings you to the Monastery built in the name of the Apostle Andreas, the patron Saint of the Greek, the Scottish and the Russian. Hosting a number of monksand nuns of Cyprus Greek origin, the Monastery has some additonal buildings offering shelter to its pilgrims. Accepted as holy by Turkish Cyprıots and Greek Cypriots alike, the Monastery still receives many pilgrims today and has a marvellous atmosphere, especially on Sundays, the Sabbath day for Christians.
Beside the main blocks of the Monastery there are several additional building constructed for pilgrims and monastery inhabitants. These buildings were restored by UNOPS a few years ago within the scope of the Bi-communal Development Programme. The same project involved the restoration and operation of the Tomb of Hala Sultan situated in Greek part of the island.
As you descend the stairs towards the sea beside in the main church of the Monastery you will discover a tinty old church on the left. Visited no less then the main church, this old building embraces various invocations. Every person coming from different parts of the world has a wish to make to the Apostle Andreas, widely recognised for his miracles.
The Apostle Andreas is accepted to be the first priest, as he was the first one called by Jesus Christ to explain and promote Chiristianity to the world. Referring to this aspect of his calling, he is known as “O Protoklitos” meaning, “the one first called”
Many churches are reputed to have been built on this land throughout the years. However, the exact name of the Apostolos Andreas Monastery first appears in historical records in the 12th century. The oldest building of the monastery is known to date back to th 15th century, whereas it is generally accepted that a fortified Monastery existed on thisland in the 12th century. The old chamber, used as a cistern today and located under the church, is claimed to be one of the chapels remaining from this oldest Monastery building. According to the inscription on the bust situated in the courtyard, the Monastery we see today was commissioned by loannis Oicoromus.
 
A few years ago the United Nations included the Apostolos Andreas Monastery in its World Heritage List. Having undergone restoration work many times since it was first built in the 12th century, the surviving buildings of the Monastery seem to be close to destruction. Yet, the necessary restoration work cannot be carried out properly due to political hindrances.
Descending the stairs to ward to sea beside the Monastery, you will find a fountain at the point where the Apostle is reputed to have trodden centuries ago. The water , claimed to have cured the blind captain, is still believed to have a healing effect and it is visited by thousands of people every year coming to taste one drop to recover from their ailments.
At the end of your visit to Monastery, it is highly recommended that you venture a little farther to reach the very tip to the island, -that is Zafer Burnu. You will find only a path to lead you directly to the point, almost surrounded by the open waters of the Mediterranean. Borne from these waters by nymphs, the goddess Aphrodite was worshipped at this point and honored by a gorgeous temple in the name of the goddess herself. Unfortunately, there is nothing left to us from magnificent monument , nothing but the marvellous view that once delighted the delicate spirit of the goddess.
A captivating place, a special and holy place indeed. But it is time to return and it is time to return and it is a long way home along the winding roads of the Karpaz Peninsula.
St Andrew was the brother of St Peter, who served John the Baptist and was the first of the apostles to be called to ministry by Jesus. Having served John the Baptist throughout his lifetime, Andreas was called to the priesthood and to preach Christianity by Jesus Christ personally. He is the one first called, thus referred to with the title ‘O Protoklitos’. Andreas conducted his missionary journeys across the ancient borders of Byzantine such as Macedonia, the Black Sea, Nicea and Thessalonika.Andreas is said to have died in Greece. On the Patras coast in Southern Greece, the Saint is reputed to have prayed for two days until his last mortal breath.
Images of his martyrdom depict him as a white-bearded old man of 80, tied to an olive tree cross that stood by the sea shore at Patras in the Peloponnese.
He continued to preach for two days before he finally expired. He is the patron saint of Greece, Russia, and Scotland, a protector of travellers and commander of winds. His feast day is celebrated on 15th August and 30th November.
The shrine only became a popular sanctuary with the miracle of Maria Georgiou in 1895. 17 years after the disappearance of her son, she received a dream in answer to her unceasing petitions to St Andrew, which instructed her to go from her native Cilicia to the neglected shrine of Apostolos Andreas at the tip of Karpas, Cyprus. On the boat over she explained her journey to fellow passengers and particularly excited the attention of a young travelling dervish. He asked Maria how she would identify her lost s on, so she told him of the peculiar pair of birthmarks he bore on his shoulder and chest. The dervish threw off his woolen cloak to expose the same marks and fell on his knees before his mother.
 
 
| North Cyprus Map |
Hotel in Kyrenia Cyprus map |
5 star Kyrenia Hotels on map |
 |
 |
 |
|
