Description of the attraction
In the western part of the small village of Pera Chorio, which is just 15 kilometers south of Nicosia, there is a small church of the Holy Apostles, which is one of the many attractions in the region. The church, or rather even the chapel, was erected in the 12th century during the reign of the Franks on the island. For its construction, stone blocks were used, mined directly near the village.
This neat building has a cross, traditional for Orthodox churches, and its roof is crowned with a large dome. Each of the three entrances of the church symbolizes a specific Christian rite, for example, the southern door symbolizes baptism. Until now, the temple has preserved the original frescoes created at the end of the 12th century, almost immediately after the construction of the church. Most of them depict Orthodox saints. This mural is considered one of the finest examples of Comnenian art that has survived to this day.
In addition, many legends are associated with this small church, which are told with pleasure by the local residents of the older generation. So, they claim that once in the church itself one could hear the voices and conversations of the holy apostles, in whose honor it was consecrated.
In 1913, the courtyard of the chapel was turned into a cemetery, where villagers were buried. The first person buried on it was the priest Pera-Chorio. Despite the presence of a cemetery, every year on June 29, a bright festival is held near the church.
Now the Church of the Holy Apostles is under the protection of the Department of Archeology of Cyprus as a monument of culture and architecture.
