The dimensions of the interior of the space do not exceed 1.5m but they carry with them an enormous History that can not fit in the whole Panhellenic since their Temple, located a few meters away, is the only one in the World.
PafosPress.com on the 11th of October celebrating the Temple visited the site and takes you with exclusive pictures and the rich history of the brothers Ossia Zinaida and Philonilla, relatives of Apostle Paul.
What were Zinaida and Phillonia?
St Zinaida and Philonilla were sisters. They came from Tarsus of Cilicia and were relatives of Apostle Paul. They came from a wealthy and wealthy family, which allowed them to teach both medical art and science.
From a very early age, they were led to the Christian faith of which they became the hottest followers. Their affinity with Paul prompted them to work in places where he preached, thus consolidating his work.
How were they found in Kissonerga?
Saint Zinaida and Philonilla traveled and practiced medicine while performing missionary work. So we see them first in the parts of Greece Magnesia, where the city of Volos is today, in ancient Demetrias.
From Demetrias they settled in Paphos, namely in Kissonerga after the missionary work of the Apostles Paul and Barnabas in this region of Cyprus.
In Kissonerga the houses were razed, they worked to support and spread Christianity, and healed the sick - especially women and women's diseases. Their poor living conditions, the miseries and the discomforts of the missionary work, have damaged their health. And so, they slept in peace without getting old. First Zinaida and then Phillonilla.
They were buried in Kissonerga
In the place where they were buried, in Kissonerga, a temple was built later in their name. Very close to the main church of the village, which is dedicated to the Transfiguration of the Savior, the foundations of the one-aisled Temple, which was dedicated to St Zinaida and Philonilla, were preserved and destroyed by an earthquake.
The inhabitants of Kissonerga village and the surrounding area believe that St. Zinaida and Phillonia heal mainly female hemorrhages.
In older years, women suffering from bleeding were used to come to the Temple of the Transfiguration of the Savior in Kissonerga and were wrapped in a thin film they dedicated to the Saints to be cured. Next to the ruined church there was a well with a healing sanctuary to which the faithful went to be cured of women's ailments. Additionally, the young unmarried village girls were washed with the holy water to help the two saints find a husband.
The miracle
According to the tradition that remains alive from day to day, Aghia Zinaida and Phillonia among the many incidents that have been treated were also a young woman who had a gynecological problem and could not have children.
The reputation of the two Saints for gynecological treatments led the young woman to Kissonerga, where she was eventually cured by the Oosities and able to become a child.
Tradition says that after their felling, this was another serious reason for the construction of their Temple.
Obstacles of the Department of Antiquities in the restoration of the Temple
Today, the Ecclesiastical Commission of the Church of Saint Zinais and Philonilla in Kissonerga has twice, at least, requested the state authorities to restore the ruins of the Osium temple, but unfortunately it was found in front of the "wall of bureaucracy."
Requests are discarded and fall into the void since the Department of Antiquities considers the site protected and does not allow any intervention or restoration, resulting in the image you can see in the photos.
It should be noted that the cost of erection is not expected to be borne either by the state or by the Church, since many are the faithful who have expressed their willingness to contribute to cover the cost of such an undertaking.
The temple is celebrated on October 11, but it is ruined
On the ruins of the temple of Saints Zinais and Philonilla in Kissonerga, the Divine Liturgy is held until today in memory of the Holy Brothers on October 11th, where they celebrate.
It should be noted that today, Oct. 10, the Metropolitan of Paphos Georgios Wednesday will perform during the evening and will declare at the celebrated Holy Temple of Saints Zinais and Phillonilla in Kissonerga.
Every year on the day of celebration, the ruined temple visits hundreds of believers from all over Cyprus.
ABSOLUTE: Sound c. The beauty.
We honor Tarson in a great way, the honest flowers have blossomed, Zinaus the wise and Philonilla. But if you have the faith of the crepe, so many floods of demons have fallen away. For and against Angels we dance, in our favor.
[pafospress.com photos]
Lovely wee bit of info.