The catacombs of Agios Mnasonas

[cyprusmax47]

Last weekend I went for a trip towards Troodos in order to visit the village of Potamiou as Dominic mentioned that place in an other post...




searching in the net I found out that this village is not only very pretty as you can see, but one can visit one of the oldest chapels of Cyprus: Agios Mnasonas (300 AD) with catacombs underneath the church and ventilations on the walls.

Unfortunately there is a wooden roof construction to protect the church against the weather... here the entrance with the walls of the chapel still in situ on the left hand side...


There is one other advantage from the roof construction: as one can see on this photo there is church service now possible..
on the right hand side the access to the catacombs...


here the steps down and one can see also the ventilation on the wall..


down there it was very narrow and sticky, not to mention a lot of flies, and dark as the electric did not function.
in the foreground two pieces of columns from the time



one of the famous caves with remains of wall painting where the Saint was found buried.


I was very pleased with that trip, just after my Saturday's fish lunch at Timi beach and lucky with the weather staying fine at Potamiou as on the way there, it started raining very hard near Prastio in the Dhiarizos valley.

Max

[71 Trans Am]

It sort of diminishes the historic interest and atmosphere of the place when you see a Lidl carrier bag hanging on the wall - I visited the one just down the road from the Roman Hotel a while ago and there was a Cola bottle standing in the shrine with the candles and holy pictures - I cannot imagine a cypriot doing this more likely an ignorant tourist with no respect - The cypriot lady who seemed to look after the place obviously had not noticed it was there or i would think she would have removed it - Still i suppose it is no different to seeing a shopping trolley in a graveyard in the UK

[Yioula]

Thank you Max very interesting
Cyprus has so much history and interesting places to visit, it’s such a shame that a large percentage of tourist in AI don’t go further than the pool, large tour companies like TUI insist that the hotel do AI but the other businesses must suffer as if you’ve paid up front for all drinks & meals you’re less likely to go elsewhere!!

[Ancient History]

Very interesting Max. I must visit one day. Just one other thing, I don’t think those are ventilation holes but are likely to be scaffolding holes for use when constructing the next level, however I may be wrong.

[cyprusmax47]

It sort of diminishes the historic interest and atmosphere of the place when you see a Lidl carrier bag hanging on the wall - I visited the one just down the road from the Roman Hotel a while ago and there was a Cola bottle standing in the shrine with the candles and holy pictures - I cannot imagine a cypriot doing this more likely an ignorant tourist with no respect - The cypriot lady who seemed to look after the place obviously had not noticed it was there or i would think she would have removed it - Still i suppose it is no different to seeing a shopping trolley in a graveyard in the UK

Also for me it is strange that in such places you can find objects they can diminish the feeling and atmosphere. But on the other hand Cypriots are very religious and focus much more at the important things rather than on minor matters.

Like me in this case as I was more focused at the two ancient columns than on the ugly Lidl bag. I should have posted that pic instead, where one can see the "cover stones" and the cave itself....and not the plastic item, but then one could not see the ancient columns which prove the age of the whole place...


Max

[Jimgward]

Unfortunately, religious places have become so 'touristy' - I used to get upset in places like York Minster and the St Peter's, when people show no respect for them being places of worship for many - with ignoring eating and drinking inside, taking photos or talking, laughing and carrying on - but perhaps the fact these places are 'free' doesn't help. It means stewarding is too expensive.

[Dominic]

Cola bottles are often used in shrines by locals to stand candles in or hold fuel. I think they see the shrine as functional rather than decorative.

[71 Trans Am]

Thanks for the info Dominic maybe thats why it was there and in that case probably acceptable to Cypriots but certainly out of place to visitors

[Ams]

Thanks Max

This looks interesting. I'll keep it in mind for next time I am in the area.

[cyprusmax47]

Very interesting Max. I must visit one day. Just one other thing, I don’t think those are ventilation holes but are likely to be scaffolding holes for use when constructing the next level, however I may be wrong.

I still believe that this holes are for ventilation. Here another pic showing them all the way along at the base of the whole complex, just above the catacombs. I think the result came from the Department of Antiquities when they started restore efforts in 2008 which are still ongoing depending on funds they need....


Max