NICOSIA TO PERISTERONA...
(...) "A
small railway between the two ancient capitals - Famagusta and Nicosia
- of the island with a continuation to Evrykhou was constructed about
the year 1905, chiefly for the purpose of carrying grain through the
great agricultural plain of the Messaoria to the restored port of embarkation
at Famagusta. Railways with a very limited service of passenger trains
are not of very much utility to the student of local topography and
antiquities. In the present case the vicinity of the three large towns
Famagusta, Nicosia, and Morphou may be more conveniently visited from
either of these centres by a carriage than from neighbouring railway
stations." (...)
-.-.-.- 'Green Line', no passage at the
moment -.-.-.- Because of the political situation the original
'1915-route' (as described in related
pages 10b-1 en 10b-2) cannot be followed. The route on this
page can be done in Greek Cyprus.
- Hans Doeleman
(Kokkini Trimithia,
a village described on the high road to Troödos.)
Mammari,
a poor modern village without interest.
Dhenia,
a half ruined hamlet with a modern church of St. Karalambos. Both these
villages are situated picturesquely on the cliffs which here form the
side of the Ovgos Potamos flowing through Morphou. Mammari church, dedicated
to St. Procopios is a conspicuous object, although invisible from the
higher level of the Messaoria.
At Akacha
(Akaki)
are many water mills of a curious ancient pattern with the horizontal
wheel. This village which now contains few traces of antiquity, the
church dedicated to Chrysoeleousa having been rebuilt in 1845, is mentioned
in medieval records as the fief of Balian
d'Ibelin, 1310. In later times it
formed part of the Domaine Royal, and here Henri
II. built a 'maison
de plaisance'. Here also was a
château of the Prince of
Galilee, which was afterwards given
by Jacques II.
to Nicholas Morabit
in 1461. Amongst the watermills a large modern church of the Sotiros
Metamorphosis has recently taken the place of an ancient chapel, and
there is a fragmentary ruin known as Archangelos.
From Akacha a short road leads to Meniko,
passing a verdant region of gardens and water mills on the banks of
the Akacha River.
Meniko.
The village church, dedicated to Ay. Kyprianos is a somewhat famous
medieval shrine, originally built
by Peter I.
(1359-1369). According to Machaeras, a small church in the village of
Meniko contained the heads of Cyprian and Justina, two martyrs who suffered
at Nicomedia in Bythinia under Claudius II. (A.D. 268). Their relics
are said to have been removed from Syria to Cyprus at the time of some
Moslem invasion of the former country, and deposited within this church.
A well of water within the building was considered of great efficacy
in the cure of hysteria and fevers, by virtue of these relics. King
Peter I. suffering from a quartan
ague which defied medical treatment was recommended to make a pilgrimage
to Meniko which was attended with the happiest results, and in token
of gratitude, he caused the church to be rebuilt on a larger scale,
and placed the sacred relics in silver shrines with hinged tops which
could be opened to allow of the osculations by the faithful.
The church of the XIVth century described by Machoeras
may still survive to some extent in the north aisle of the present rebuilt
or enlarged edifice, and the miraculous well also remains within the
apse now used for the table of prothesis. Across the whole width of
the interior extends a carved and gilt iconostasis of the usual pattern
dated 1818. In its centre is an icon of the two saints
Cyprian and Justina, with two little
hinged flaps through which the relics can be kissed. The enlarged church
in its present form dates from the same period as the iconostasis. Lying
in the churchyard are a few details of the original church. Close by
the chief village church is a small rebuilt chapel containing fragments
of ancient icons and woodwork.
Peristerona(ri),
a mere collection of mud buildings
of the poorest description, with small rebuilt churches devoid of interest.
