AGIOS GEORGIOS CHAPEL - AGIOS FANOURIOS CAVE

The Agios Georgios Chapel(Εκκλησάκι Αγίου Γεωργίου - Ayorgi Kilisesi) and the Agios Fanurios Cave(σπηλιά του Αγίου Φανουρίου - Agios Fanurios mağara) are interesting and form the main place of Orthodox devotion in the settlement of Kyrenia. Vandalized after 1974, the chapel and grotto are once again open to pilgrims and are well worth a stop if you are nearby...

Chapel. This small white building dedicated to Saint George was erected in 1924 on the site of an older church which gave its name to the village. The chapel is located above a cliff whose cavities were used as catacombs by the first Christians.

Cave. The largest of the ancient catacombs houses the shrine dedicated to St. Phanourios, a Christian martyr of the 4th century. This saint is particularly venerated in Rhodes (Greece), where an icon representing him miraculously appeared in the 15th century. In Cypriot tradition, a "slight" distortion in time and space makes the cave the refuge of the saint fleeing the Arabs in the seventh century. The dozens of icons deposited here testify to the devotion to Phanourios, considered the protector of priests and patron saint of "lost things": keys, love, money... To be recommended to the unlucky gamblers of the nearby casinos.

Practical. Beware, it is recommended to wear good shoes because of the stairs leading to the cave which are uneven and cut into the cliff.