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DAY 1:
We meet at Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport for our departing flight at 08:10 am to Larnaca International Airport. Our arrival time in Larnaca will be at 09:50 am. As soon as we receive our luggage our guide and bus will be waiting to begin our tour. First visit of our stay will be to the Church of Saint Lazarus in Larnaca. Saint Lazarus, who was resurrected 4 days after his death by his friend and Lord Jesus Christ in Bethany soon left his town for Cyprus in fear of the Jews. In Cyprus he was ordained Bishop of Kition (Larnaca today) by the Apostles Paul and Barnabas. His second burial is under the Church that exists in his name today. There we will venerate some of his holy relics along with his tomb (Larnaca as it is named in Greek). After a short walk on the beach of Finikoudes, we continue with our next visit at the women’s monastery of Saint Thekla. According to tradition, the monastery was built by Saint Helen during her visit to Cyprus in the beginning of the 4th century AD, when she had also established the Holy Monastery of Stavrovouni. The relevant tradition reports that Saint Helen arrived at the region where the monastery stands today, prayed to God and then Holy Water started flowing from the earth that helped her and her escorts to cool down. She then constructed a church over this spot, which she dedicated to the early martyr and equal to Apostles, Saint Thekla. The Holy Water spring exists today and it is used by the faithful for the cure of skin diseases and eczemas. Close by is the Monastery of Stavrovouni which will be our next stop of the day. The Monastery was built in 329 AD by the Empress Saint Helen making it one of the oldest in the world. It received this name when Saint Helen left a fragment of the actual cross of Christ on the sight. Entrance to women is forbidden but our female guests will be able to visit the church of the Saints of Cyprus where they can venerate a piece of the Holy Cross. Departure for our hotel. Free time for an evening walk in the city. Dinner at the hotel and overnight stay.
DAY 2:
After breakfast we head out for a day trip to Nicosia. We’ll visit the Liberty Monument, the “Green Line” (which is the line that has divided the country in two), the National Struggle Museum, the Archdiocese of Cyprus, and the main Cathedral of the City with it’s beautiful icons, Saint John the Evangelist. During the day we’ll stroll the picturesque walkways of Ledra, Onasagorou and the neighborhood of Laiki. From there we will visit the Makedonitissa Tomb. The tomb is the resting place of Greek Cypriot and some Greek officers and soldiers who were killed during the Turkish invasion. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 3:
After breakfast we begin our day with a visit to the Monastery of Saint Heraklidou. The Monastery received its name from Bishop of Tamassos Heraklidou, which is built over his grave. We will continue on to one of the most famous Monasteries of the island, Machairus, that guards the miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary Machairiotissa. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 4:
After breakfast we are off to the second largest city of Cyrpus, Limassol. After a short tour of the city we’ll head to the country’s tallest mountain, Mount Troodos. On our way there we’ll have the opportunity to take in the breathtaking views and picturesque villages. A stop at one of these villages, named Platres will surely be worth it. From there our next stop will be the 10th century monastery of the Virgin Mary Trooditissa which houses the miracle working icon named after the monastery. A pilgrimage to Cyprus is not complete without visiting the world famous monastery of Kykko. Kykko offers an amazing museum with liturgical items such as vestments, icons, and manuscripts. The monastery also houses the icon of Eleousa believed to have been painted by the Evangelist Luke. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 5:
After breakfast we depart for the occupied area of the country. There we will visit the monastery of Apostle Barnabas who brought Christianity to the island and is considered among the Cypriots as their protector. The monastery today functions as a museum, but it also holds the tomb of the Apostle. Next stop will be the recently renovated monastery of the Apostle Andrew. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 6:
Final day of our stay in Cyrpus. After breakfast we’ll be visiting the city of Paphos. There we will visit the churches of Saint Kyriaki and Panagia Chrisopolitissa. We will also see the pillar in which the Apostle Paul was tied to and flogged. Finally a visit at the catacomb of Saint Solomoni, as well as the mosaics of Paphos that are dated to the 3rd century BC. The Paphos Mosaics are considered among the finest in the eastern Mediterranean and form part of the Archaeological Park of Kato Paphos, which has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage sites list since 1980. They were discovered in 1962, after a farmer ploughing his field accidently unearthed one of them. Free time for shopping and coffee at the port of the city. Arrival at the airport late afternoon where we’ll depart for our flight to Athens at 19:15 pm. Arrival at Athens at 21:00 pm.
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