Triplets Family learn with us how to be happy: What to see in Cyprus. Paphos. St. Solomoni's Catacombs (Agia Solomoni Catacombs)

Since ancient times, in the center of Paphos is revered place called "Catacombs of St. Solomoni" (Agia Solomoni Catacombs).

If you are planning your holidays in Paphos, you would like to know what interesting you can see for free. The one of such a see sights is mentioned in the title catacombs.
In this article you will find my photos which I did when walking there with my children.
On my opinion Cyprus is good place for cheap holidays. There are plently many another places about which you can read on my blog with many photos of Paphos as always :)

History

According to legend, in the deep dungeons, more like caves, holy Solomoni with her seven sons was hiding from persecution. Around the year 168 AD she and her children fled to the island of Palestine. Here they settled in abandoned quarries. After some time they were discovered and seized. After long tortures and martyrdom of her sons Solomoni died herself. Since then, they have honored the Church of Cyprus. Service of the holy martyrs committed on August 18 new style calendar. Their life coincides with Life saints seven Maccabean martyrs who suffered in 166 BC, whose memory is celebrated on August 14.

St. Solomon's Catacombs

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Description

Catacombs of St. Solomoni combine several underground rooms arranged around an open rectangular court. By its architecture, they resemble ancient tombs of the Hellenistic period. Through the narrow stone steps pilgrims descend into the catacombs, to open up a rectangular area. From there you can go to the made in the rock rectangular volumes, which are located in the form of a cross: the temple and accommodations. In the underground church, chapel, a small room without an altar and iconostasis, which extends from west to east , the pilgrims put candles lying immediately in front of St. Solomoni and pray for the healing of her illness. In the early days of Christianity such underground structures rescued from persecution pagans many early Christians. It was then the largest room with arched entrance and was transformed into a church and later the walls were decorated with frescoes. The temple walls still retain fragments of badly damaged the frescoes of the XII century. Today can hardly be distinguished on the altar wall of the Virgin and Child, figures of the Fathers of the Church and image fragments of two deacons and the cross, the remains of a fresco on the north and south sides are dated XIV century. Before the temple in the northern wall of rock hewn cave entrance where at great depth from the surface is miraculous spring. To it you can go down the steep steps carved into the rock. This underground grotto is not fenced right under your feet, including large stones in water. Its level varies at different times. Earlier, when here did not look hundreds of curious tourists, it remains clean, transparent, and has benefited from the eye and other diseases. Recently, the source is often cluttered, the water is tainted and undrinkable. During the Frankish period XII-XVI centuries there were hidden from the Latins, prayed and taught their children to Orthodox Christians . Above the entrance to the cave hangs thick trees, hung with rags rag. So, asking the Virgin Mary for the healing of serious illnesses, people tied to it more and more new nodules. Although this practice has its roots in ancient pre-Christian times, it is still observed today.

St. Solomon's Catacombs

In the catacombs of the two entrances - one right after a souvenir shop , right, right next to the sidewalk , if you follow the waterfront in the center of the city. The second input is in the "mouth " fork in the road , about fifty meters in front of and slightly to the left . Stretched over the first input is the same tree that is particularly believe in miracles of healing (obviously) Visitors entirely hung with all sorts of rags . As these or many pious personages used lace panties , thongs and bras , which are obviously right there with myself and filmed - the good, the place is pretty deserted . Inside the air ( no one knows who ) homemade altars and iconostasis , sometimes in front of them lit candles .