List of painted churches in Cyprus

There are over sixty churches in Cyprus with Byzantine and post-Byzantine wall paintings.^[1]^[2] Of these, ten that are situated in the Troodos Mountains have been inscribed jointly on the UNESCO World Heritage List as the Painted Churches in the Troodos Region.^[3]^[4]

History

The origins of Christianity on the island may be traced to the visit of St. Paul, St. Barnabas and St. Mark around AD 46.^[2] After the fall of the western Roman Empire, Cyprus came under the sway of Byzantium, although the timely discovery of Barnabas' relics helped the Church of Cyprus uphold its autocephaly.^[1] The crusader Kingdom of Cyprus outlived the Fall of Constantinople by a generation; the subsequent sale of the island to Venice led to a brief period of Italo-Byzantine painting.^[1] In 1571 Cyprus fell to the Ottomans and the practice of ecclesiastic wall painting largely came to an end.^[1]

Organization of space

Subject to the layout of each church, the iconographic schema typically accords with the classic Byzantine tripartition, evident also in Byzantine mosaic decoration, the three zones comprising: (1) the dome and conch of the apse; (2) the pendentives, squinches and upper vaults; and (3) the lower, secondary vaults and walls. The first is reserved for depictions of the holiest persons, the Christ Pantokrator and the Virgin; the second for scenes from the Life of Christ and the festival cycle; and the third for the choir of intercessory saints.^[2]^[5]

Preservation

Since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, a number of churches in the north have been looted and their wall paintings detached to supply the international antiquities trade.^[6]^[7] Among them is the Church of St. Evphemianos in Lysi: the thirteenth-century Christ Pantocrator mural and surrounding angels were detached, leaving their feet behind; the paintings were then acquired for the Menil Collection and displayed at the Byzantine Fresco Chapel in Houston, Texas before their repatriation to the south in 2012.^[7]^[8]^[9] Meanwhile, many churches in the south been the subject of conservation interventions, conducted by the Department of Antiquities, Dumbarton Oaks and the Courtauld Institute of Art, aimed at reconciling the competing demands of stability, legibility and authenticity within the framework of ongoing devotional practice.^[10]

Churches

Church	Municipality	Comments	Coordinates	Ref.
Panagia Kanakaria Παναγία Κανακαριά Our Lady Kanakaria	Lythrangomi	sixth-century wall mosaics were looted in the 1970s; some have been recovered from art dealers^[7]	35°28′42″N 34°09′58″E / 35.47846°N 34.166021°E / 35.47846; 34.166021 (Panagia Kanakaria, Lythrangomi)	^[1]
Panagia Angeloktisti Παναγία η Αγγελόκτιστη Virgin Mary Built by the Angels	Kiti		34°50′51″N 33°34′14″E / 34.847630°N 33.570517°E / 34.847630; 33.570517 (Panagia Angeloktisti, Kiti)
Panagia Kyra Παναγιά Κυρά Most Holy Lady	Livadia		35°23′53″N 34°01′30″E / 35.398°N 34.025°E / 35.398; 34.025 (Livadia (Panagia Kyra))	^[1]
Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis Άγιος Νικόλαος της Στέγης St. Nicholas of the Roof	Kakopetria	included in UNESCO inscription^[11]	34°58′38″N 32°53′22″E / 34.977289°N 32.889537°E / 34.977289; 32.889537 (Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis, Kakopetria)
Panagia Theotokos Παναγία Θεοτόκος Most Holy Mother of God	Kakopetria		34°59′13″N 32°54′04″E / 34.987°N 32.901°E / 34.987; 32.901 (Kakopetria (Panagia Theotokos))	^[1]
Agios Georgios Perachoritis Άγιος Γεώργιος ο Περαχωρίτης St. George Perachoritis	Kakopetria		34°59′13″N 32°54′04″E / 34.987°N 32.901°E / 34.987; 32.901 (Kakopetria (Agios Georgios Perachoritis))	^[1]
Agios Sozomenos Άγιος Σωζόμενος St. Sozomenos	Galata		34°59′49″N 32°53′53″E / 34.997°N 32.898°E / 34.997; 32.898 (Galata (Agios Sozomenos))
Panagia Theotokos Παναγία Θεοτόκος / Αρχάγγελος Μιχαήλ Most Holy Mother of God or Archangel Michael	Galata		34°59′49″N 32°53′53″E / 34.997°N 32.898°E / 34.997; 32.898 (Galata (Panagia Theotokos))
Panagia Podithou Παναγία Ποδίθου Our Lady of Podithou	Galata	included in UNESCO inscription^[11]	34°59′49″N 32°53′53″E / 34.997°N 32.898°E / 34.997; 32.898 (Galata (Panagia Podithou))
Agia Paraskevi Αγία Παρασκευή St. Paraskevi	Galata		34°59′49″N 32°53′53″E / 34.997°N 32.898°E / 34.997; 32.898 (Galata (Agia Paraskevi))
Agioi Ioachim kai Anna Αγίοι Ιωακείμ και Άννα Saints Joachim and Anna	Kaliana		35°00′45″N 32°53′03″E / 35.012520°N 32.884086°E / 35.012520; 32.884086 (Agioi Ioachim kai Anna, Kaliana)
Archangelos Michael Αρχάγγελος Μιχαήλ Archangel Michael	Vyzakia		35°04′37″N 33°00′50″E / 35.077°N 33.014°E / 35.077; 33.014 (Vyzakia (Archangelos Michael))
Panagia Phorbiotissa Παναγία Φορβιώτισσα / Παναγία της Ασίνου Virgin Mary Phorbiotissa or Our Lady of Asinou	Nikitari	included in UNESCO inscription^[11]	35°02′47″N 32°58′24″E / 35.046270°N 32.973254°E / 35.046270; 32.973254 (Panagia Phorbiotissa, Nikitari)
Panagia Chrysokourdaliotissa Παναγία Χρυσοκουρδαλιωτισσα Virgin Mary Chrysokourdaliotissa	Spilia	also known as the Church of the Dormition, Kourdali; submitted in 2002 as an extension to the UNESCO inscription and currently on the Tentative List; the timber roof is a reconstruction of the 1960s^[12]	34°58′27″N 32°57′02″E / 34.974243°N 32.950530°E / 34.974243; 32.950530 (Panagia Chrysokourdaliotissa, Kourdali)
Timios Stavros Τίμιος Σταυρός Holy Cross	Agia Eirini		34°58′52″N 32°58′08″E / 34.981°N 32.969°E / 34.981; 32.969 (Agia Eirini (Timios Stavros))	^[1]
Panagia tou Arakos Παναγία του Άρακος Our Lady of Arakos	Lagoudera	included in UNESCO inscription^[11] close examination during conservation and restoration work has indicated the use of the fresco technique for the 1192 paintings, with plaster joins revealing the giornate^[13]^[14]	34°57′55″N 33°00′25″E / 34.965416°N 33.007023°E / 34.965416; 33.007023 (Timios Stavros, Lagoudera)
Stavros tou Agiasmati Σταυρός του Αγιασμάτι Holy Cross of Agiasmati	Platanistasa	included in UNESCO inscription^[11]	34°56′46″N 33°02′38″E / 34.946°N 33.044°E / 34.946; 33.044 (Platanistasa (Stavros tou Agiasmati))
Timios Stavros Τίμιος Σταυρός Holy Cross	Kyperounta		34°56′21″N 32°58′34″E / 34.939238°N 32.976124°E / 34.939238; 32.976124 (Timios Stavros, Kyperounta)	^[1]
Timios Stavros Τίμιος Σταυρός Holy Cross	Pelendri	included in UNESCO inscription^[11]	34°53′46″N 32°58′01″E / 34.896°N 32.967°E / 34.896; 32.967 (Pelendri (Timios Stavros))
Panagia Katholiki Παναγία Καθολική Virgin Mary the Catholic	Pelendri		34°53′46″N 32°58′01″E / 34.896°N 32.967°E / 34.896; 32.967 (Pelendri (Panagia Katholiki))
Timios Stavros Τίμιος Σταυρός Holy Cross	Kouka		34°51′00″N 32°53′10″E / 34.850°N 32.886°E / 34.850; 32.886 (Kouka (Timios Stavros))
Agia Mavra Αγία Μαύρα St. Mavra	Koilani		34°50′38″N 32°51′36″E / 34.844°N 32.860°E / 34.844; 32.860 (Koilani (Agia Mavra))
Agios Georgios Άγιος Γεώργιος St. George	Monagri		34°48′31″N 32°54′35″E / 34.808571°N 32.909734°E / 34.808571; 32.909734 (Agios Georgios, Monagri)	^[1]
Archangelos Michael Αρχάγγελος Μιχαήλ Archangelos Michael	Monagri		34°50′38″N 32°51′36″E / 34.844°N 32.860°E / 34.844; 32.860 (Monagri (Archangelos Michael))
Panagia Amasgou Παναγία της Αμασγούς Our Lady Amasgou	Monagri		34°48′34″N 32°54′36″E / 34.809575°N 32.910082°E / 34.809575; 32.910082 (Panagia Amasgou, Monagri)
Agios Mamas Άγιος Μάμας St. Mamas	Louvaras		34°50′10″N 33°02′17″E / 34.836°N 33.038°E / 34.836; 33.038 (Louvaras (Agios Mamas))
Tou Soteros Μεταμόρφωση του Σωτήρος Transfiguration of the Saviour	Palaichori Oreinis	included in UNESCO inscription^[11]	34°55′23″N 33°05′38″E / 34.923°N 33.094°E / 34.923; 33.094 (Palaichori (Tou Soteros))
Panagia Chrysopantanassa Παναγία η Χρυσοπαντάνασσα Virgin Mary Chrysopantanassa	Palaichori Oreinis		34°55′20″N 33°05′34″E / 34.922094°N 33.092794°E / 34.922094; 33.092794 (Palaichori (Panagia Chrysopantanassa))
Timios Prodomos Τιμιος Προδρομος St. John the Precursor	Askas		34°55′44″N 33°04′41″E / 34.929°N 33.078°E / 34.929; 33.078 (Askas (Timios Prodromos))
Agia Christina Αγία Χριστίνα St. Christina	Askas		34°56′28″N 33°04′29″E / 34.941058°N 33.074598°E / 34.941058; 33.074598 (Agia Christina, Askas)
Agios Ioannis Lampadistis Άγιος Ιωάννης ο Λαμπαδιστής St. John Lampadistis	Kalopanagiotis	included in UNESCO inscription^[11]	34°59′32″N 32°49′49″E / 34.992237°N 32.830195°E / 34.992237; 32.830195 (Agios Ioannis Lampadistis, Kalopanagiotis)
Agioi Andronikos kai Athanasia Αγίoi Ανδρόνικοs και Αθανασία Saints Andronicus and Athanasia	Kalopanagiotis		34°59′31″N 32°49′41″E / 34.992°N 32.828°E / 34.992; 32.828 (Kalopanagiotis (Agioi Andronikos kai Athanasia))
Panagia tou Moutoulla Παναγία του Μουτουλλά Our Lady of Moutoullas	Moutoullas	included in UNESCO inscription^[11]	34°59′02″N 32°49′30″E / 34.984°N 32.825°E / 34.984; 32.825 (Moutoullas (Panagia tou Moutoulla))
Archangelos Michael Αρχάγγελος Μιχαήλ Archangel Michael	Pedoulas	included in UNESCO inscription^[11]	34°58′01″N 32°49′44″E / 34.967°N 32.829°E / 34.967; 32.829 (Pedoulas (Archangelos Michael))
Timios Stavros Τιμιος Σταυρος Holy Cross	Palaiomylos		34°56′06″N 32°49′23″E / 34.935°N 32.823°E / 34.935; 32.823 (Palaiomylos (Timios Stavros))	^[1]
Panagia Kardiovastouza Παναγία η Kαρδιοβαστάζουσα Virgin Mary who Holds the Heart	Kaminaria		34°55′41″N 32°47′02″E / 34.928°N 32.784°E / 34.928; 32.784 (Kaminaria (Timios Stavros))
Agios Vasilios Άγιος Βασίλειος St. Basil	Kaminaria		34°55′41″N 32°47′02″E / 34.928°N 32.784°E / 34.928; 32.784 (Kaminaria (Agios Vasilios))
Katakomba Agia Solomoni Κατακόμβη Αγίας Σολομωνής Catacomb of St. Solomoni	Paphos		34°45′42″N 32°24′45″E / 34.761623°N 32.412500°E / 34.761623; 32.412500 (Catacomb of St. Solomoni, Paphos)	^[1]
Enkleistra kai Monasteri tou Agiou Neophytou Εγκλείστρα και Μοναστήρι του Αγίου Νεοφύτου Enkleistra and Monastery of Agios Neophytos	Tala	see Neophytos of Cyprus^[15]	34°50′47″N 32°26′47″E / 34.846424°N 32.446404°E / 34.846424; 32.446404 (Enkleistra and Monastery of Agios Neophytos, Tala)
Agia Paraskevi Αγία Παρασκευή St. Paraskevi	Yeroskipou		34°45′34″N 32°27′11″E / 34.759516°N 32.452980°E / 34.759516; 32.452980 (Agia Paraskevi, Yeroskipou)
Panagia Katholiki Παναγία Καθολική Virgin Mary the Catholic	Kouklia		34°42′26″N 32°34′30″E / 34.707204°N 32.575096°E / 34.707204; 32.575096 (Panagia Katholiki, Kouklia)
Palaia Enkleistra Παλαιά Εγκλείστρα Palaea Enkleistra	Kouklia		34°41′53″N 32°35′35″E / 34.698°N 32.593°E / 34.698; 32.593 (Kouklia (Palaia Enkleistra))	^[1]
Agios Nikolaos Άγιος Νικόλαος St. Nicholas	Galataria		34°52′37″N 32°37′55″E / 34.877°N 32.632°E / 34.877; 32.632 (Galataria (Agios Nikolaos))	^[1]
Agios Theodosios Άγιος Θεοδόσιος St. Theodosius	Akhelia		34°44′17″N 32°29′10″E / 34.738°N 32.486°E / 34.738; 32.486 (Akhelia (Agios Theodosios))	^[1]
Panagia Chryseleousa Παναγία Χρυσελεούσα Virgin Mary Chryseleousa	Emba		34°48′00″N 32°25′01″E / 34.800°N 32.417°E / 34.800; 32.417 (Emba (Panagia Chryseleousa))	^[1]
Agios Kirykos Άγιος Κήρυκος St. Kirykos	Letymvou		34°51′18″N 32°30′47″E / 34.855°N 32.513°E / 34.855; 32.513 (Letymvou (Agios Kirykos))	^[1]
Archangelos Michael Αρχάγγελος Μιχαήλ Archangel Michael	Kholi		34°58′44″N 32°26′42″E / 34.979°N 32.445°E / 34.979; 32.445 (Kholi (Archangelos Michael))	^[1]
Agioi Apostoloi Άγιοι Απόστολοι Holy Apostles	Pera Chorio		35°00′47″N 33°23′35″E / 35.013°N 33.393°E / 35.013; 33.393 (Pera Chorio (Agioi Apostoloi))	^[1]
Agios Demetrianos Άγιος Δημητριανός St. Demetrianus	Dali		35°00′47″N 33°23′35″E / 35.013°N 33.393°E / 35.013; 33.393 (Dali (Agios Demetrianos))
Agia Aikaterini Αγία Αικατερίνη St. Catherine	Pyrga		34°55′35″N 33°25′49″E / 34.926405°N 33.430152°E / 34.926405; 33.430152 (Agia Aikaterini, Pyrga)
Agia Marina Αγία Μαρίνα St. Marina	Pyrga		34°55′29″N 33°25′55″E / 34.924821°N 33.431826°E / 34.924821; 33.431826 (Agia Marina, Pyrga)
Agios Antonios Άγιος Αντώνιος St. Anthony	Kellia		34°58′30″N 33°37′19″E / 34.975°N 33.622°E / 34.975; 33.622 (Kellia (Agios Antonios))
Agios Georgios Άγιος Γεώργιος St. George	Xylofagou		34°58′37″N 33°51′00″E / 34.977°N 33.850°E / 34.977; 33.850 (Xylofagou (Agios Georgios))	^[1]
Agios Georgios tis Arperas Άγιος Γεώργιος της Άρπερας St. George of Arpera	Tersefanou		34°51′14″N 33°32′46″E / 34.854°N 33.546°E / 34.854; 33.546 (Tersefanou (Agios Georgios tis Arperas))	^[1]
Archangelos Michael Αρχάγγελος Μιχαήλ Archangel Michael	Kato Lefkara		34°51′43″N 33°18′54″E / 34.862°N 33.315°E / 34.862; 33.315 (Lefkara (Archangelos Michael))
Agia Mavra Αγία Μαύρα St. Mavra	Kyrenia		35°20′20″N 33°19′16″E / 35.339°N 33.321°E / 35.339; 33.321 (Kyrenia (Agia Mavra))	^[1]
Khrysokava Χρυσοκάβα Khrysokava	Kyrenia		35°20′20″N 33°19′16″E / 35.339°N 33.321°E / 35.339; 33.321 (Kyrenia (Khrysokava))
Agios Ioannis Chrysostomos Άγιος Ιωάννης Χρυσόστομος St. John Chrysostom	Koutsovendis	the wall paintings in the chapel of the Holy Trinity, dating to c. 1100, were documented and conserved by a team from Dumbarton Oaks under Cyril Mango in the 1960s; they have been whitewashed and covered in large sheets of paper since 1974^[16]	35°16′27″N 33°25′06″E / 35.274108°N 33.418436°E / 35.274108; 33.418436 (Agios Ioannis Chrysostomos, Koutsovendis)
Panagia Aphendrika Παναγία Αφέντρικα Our Lady of Aphendrika	Rizokarpaso		35°16′26″N 33°25′05″E / 35.274°N 33.418°E / 35.274; 33.418 (Rizokarpason (Panagia Aphendrika))	^[1]
Antiphonitis Χριστός Αντιφωνητής Christ Antiphonitis	Kalograia	some of the paintings, including most of the Tree of Jesse, were detached in the 1970s and have been found in the hands of private collectors^[7]	35°19′38″N 33°37′08″E / 35.327101°N 33.618851°E / 35.327101; 33.618851 (Antiphonitis, Kalograia)	^[1]
Panagia Theotokos Παναγία Θεοτόκος Most Holy Mother of God	Trikomo		35°17′02″N 33°53′24″E / 35.284°N 33.890°E / 35.284; 33.890 (Trikomo (Panagia Theotokos))	^[1]
Agios Evphemianos Άγιος Ευφημιανός St. Euphemianos	Lysi	the detached thirteenth-century Pantrokrator was acquired for the Menil Collection and displayed at the Byzantine Fresco Chapel in Houston, Texas before its repatriation in 2012^[7]^[8]^[9]	35°05′09″N 33°39′53″E / 35.08575°N 33.664722°E / 35.08575; 33.664722 (Agios Evphemianos, Lysi)	^[1]
Agios Ioannis Evangelistis Άγιος Ιωάννης ο Ευαγγελιστής Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist	Nicosia		35°10′24″N 33°22′04″E / 35.173243°N 33.367833°E / 35.173243; 33.367833 (Agios Ioannis Evangelistis, Nicosia)	^[1]
Agios Sozomenos Άγιος Σωζόμενος St. Sozomenos	Potamia		35°02′31″N 33°26′42″E / 35.042°N 33.445°E / 35.042; 33.445 (Potamia (Agios Sozomenos))	^[1]
Agios Andronikos Αγίos Ανδρόνικοs St. Andronicus	Polis Chrysochous		35°02′20″N 32°25′26″E / 35.039°N 32.424°E / 35.039; 32.424 (Polis Chrysochous (Agios Andronikos))
Agioi Barnabas kai Ilarion Αγίοι Βαρνάβας και Ιλαρίων Saints Barnabas and Hilarion	Peristerona		35°07′48″N 33°04′55″E / 35.130°N 33.082°E / 35.130; 33.082 (Peristerona (Barnabas kai Ilarion))
Panagia Pergaminiotissa Παναγία Περγαμηνιώτισσα Our Lady Pergaminiotissa	Akanthou		35°23′02″N 33°45′50″E / 35.384°N 33.764°E / 35.384; 33.764 (Akanthou (Panagia Pergaminiotissa))
Agios Photios Άγιος Φώτιος St. Photius	Yialousa		35°32′06″N 34°11′17″E / 35.535°N 34.188°E / 35.535; 34.188 (Yialousa (Agios Photios))
Agia Solomoni Αγία Σολομωνή St. Solomoni	Koma tou Yialou		35°25′23″N 34°07′30″E / 35.423°N 34.125°E / 35.423; 34.125 (Koma tou Yialou (Agia Solomoni))
Agios Nikolaos Άγιος Νικόλαος St. Nicholas	Koma tou Yialou		35°25′23″N 34°07′30″E / 35.423°N 34.125°E / 35.423; 34.125 (Koma tou Yialou (Agios Nikolaos))
Agia Mavri Αγία Μαύρή St. Mavra	Rizokarpaso		35°37′05″N 34°24′29″E / 35.618°N 34.408°E / 35.618; 34.408 (Rizokarpaso (Agia Mavri))
Agios Philon Άγιος Φίλων St. Philon	Rizokarpaso		35°37′44″N 34°26′28″E / 35.629°N 34.441°E / 35.629; 34.441 (Rizokarpaso (Agios Philon))
Agios Prokopios Άγιος Προκόπιος St. Procopius	Sygkrasi		35°17′06″N 33°51′25″E / 35.285°N 33.857°E / 35.285; 33.857 (Sygkrasi (Agios Prokopios))
Panagia Avgasida Παναγία Αυγασίδα St. Augasida	Aloa		35°12′43″N 33°49′44″E / 35.212°N 33.829°E / 35.212; 33.829 (Aloa (Panagia Avgasida))
Panagia Apsinthiotissa Παναγία Αψινθιώτισσα Our Lady Apsinthiotissa	Sichari	some of the Byzantine wall paintings have been detached since 1974 and have since appeared on the antiquities market^[7]	35°17′00″N 33°23′22″E / 35.283392°N 33.389425°E / 35.283392; 33.389425 (Panagia Apsinthiotissa, Sichari)
Agios Georgios ton Hellenon Άγιος Γεώργιος των Ελλήνων St. George of the Greeks	Famagusta		35°07′26″N 33°56′37″E / 35.123932°N 33.943575°E / 35.123932; 33.943575 (Agios Georgios ton Hellenon, Famagusta)	^[2]
Panagia Chrysogialiotissa Παναγία Χρυσογιαλιώτισσα The Golden Virgin of Gialia	Gialia		35°05′22″N 32°33′18″E / 35.0895°N 32.555°E / 35.0895; 32.555 (Panagia Chrysogialiotissa)
Agios Georgios Exorinos Άγιος Γεώργιος ο Εξορινός St. George the Exiler	Famagusta		35°07′32″N 33°56′16″E / 35.125676°N 33.937830°E / 35.125676; 33.937830 (Agios Georgios Exorinos)