Devotional Events – Feast Days – Worship

Rich as Cyprus is in monuments, she is equally so in devotional events, feast days and acts of worship. Visitors to the island will on many occasions come across devotional events and feast days of special colour and interest. Two of the most notable days are those of Epiphany on 6 January, with the blessing of the sea waters, mainly in seaside towns, and that of the Holy Ghost in the month of June; the latter ceremony in Cyprus is called that of “Kataklysmou”, and is celebrated chiefly in the seaside towns, but above all in Larnaca. A feast day of similar importance is considered to be that of the Dormition of the Virgin, which is celebrated on the 15th August with fairs held in almost all the large monasteries dedicated to the Virgin Mother, such as the Monastery of Kykkos  and those of Trooditissa and Chrysoroyatissa. Easter celebrations in Cyprus are also noteworthy, held with particular brilliance in all the churches and monasteries, and are the main religious celebration of the Orthodox residents of the island. They begin from Palm Sunday, go on throughout Holy Week and reach their climax on Big Saturday, and their completion on Easter Sunday and Monday.

The visitor will come across feast days throughout the year, however, and mainly when the memory of local saints is honoured, such as the Apostle Barnabas (in the occupied territories), Saints Barnabas and Hilarion in Peristerona (21 October), Saint Ermogenis in Episkopi village in Limassol District (5 October), Saint Kendeas in Avgorou (6 October), Saint Eracleidios in the monastery of the same name in Politiko village, Saint Lazarus in Larnaca, Saint Neophytos the Hermit in Paphos on 28 September; and the feast day of the Holy Cross, mainly at Stavrovouni and in the village of Omodhos.