CyprusHolidayVillas4u 
 

KOKKINOS  DISTRICT - AYIA NAPA

Nothing compares to the view and the serene environment that one enjoys at the "Kokkinos" location between Paralimni and Ayia Napa.

Ayia Napa...An Earthly Heaven

Agia Napa, the turist paradise of cyprus, with its lovely golden beaches, clear sea waters, wonderful dreamy nights and its pleasent and warm-hearted inhabitants has maintained a simplicity of life which is in full accord with the historic traditions of Cyprus.

Geographically, Agia Napa is situated near Cape Greco, just south of Famagousta, and forms part of a larger area known by the name of Kokkinochorgia (a name derived from the redcolour of its soil). Before itdeveloped into a cosmopolitan tourist center, Agia Napa was a purely agricultural vilage. Today, despite its enormous development, its people still find time to engage in their old occupations, namely farming and fishing.

One may wonder where the name Agia Napa is derived from. As far as we know there is no saint that bears this name. The word Napa is archaic and it means woodland. In ancient times this area was uninhabited and was covered with a thick forest, visited only by hunters from the neighbouring villages.

According to a local tradition, one day a hunter who happened to be in the area, was greatly astonished when a hare which was being chased by his dog suddendly disappeard. The dog kept up the hot pursuit and followed the hared to his refuge which was none other than a cave. The hunter , guided by the dog's persistent and excited barking's soon located the mouth of the cave.

On entering, he gasped with suprise, because before his very eyes was the icon of Virgin Mary which was soon to become famous all over the island. It appears that during the persecutions of the Christians in the 8th and 9th century A.D. some Christians carefully selected this cave to serve as a hiding place for the Virgin Mary of Agia Napa which was later shortened to Agia Napa. the inhabitantsof the naihgbooring villages, in honour of Virgin Mary, conducted liturgies in the cave itself.This location continued to be inhabited until the 15th century. Tradition has it that when this location became renowned and importand as a koly shrine, it attacted the attention of a young ,noble lady from Venice who then lived in famagusta.

Her father had stictly forbidden her to mary the man she loved on the pretext that he was a commoner and so she left home and found refuge in Agia Napa. She soon had a church and some monastic cells built and in this way the monastery came into being.

The present monastery was built around 1500 but inside the church there is a cave which sugests it may have been used as a plase of worship in a much earlier period.

During the latter part of the Venetian rule (1489-1570) the monastery became quite famous, acquired extensive wealth and even survived the perselutions by the Turks during the Ottoman rule.

In 1668 Agia napa Monastery changed from a women's convent to a men's monastery.

From 1758 onwards, organised monastic life in the monasterywas disrupted and monks lived there only on an occasional basis.

According to local tradition, until 1790 no one lived in the close vicinity of Agia Napa . The first inhabitants who actually appeared and settled there were 20 men from Salonica and from their offspring the village of Agia Napa came into existence.

Informal monastic life continued throughout British rule. The buildings were restored in 1950.

Agia Napa Monastery was first considered as a possible centre for an ecumenical conference in 1971.

By Spring 1978 all plans for the preparation of the Monastery to take up its new role had been completed.The center was inaugurated on 21st May 1978. Agia Napa Conference Centre was established to serve and strengthen the work of all churchus in Cyprus as well as those in ther Middle East.

The innate simplicity of the Agia Napa people has not died with the passage of time. In spite of the enormous tourist development, an internse community spirit and mutual understanding characterises these people, a spirit which is reflected in their attribute towards foreign visitors. The locals here are genial, outgoing and hospitable.

From the very first moment, the visitor to Agia Napa feels a sense of belonging, at home in this welcoming environment. Here, Cypriot hospitality is an accepted part of everyday life.