The Salonica View team organizes a trekking pilgrimage to the historic and sanctified cave chapel of Saint Fanourios, in the occupied village of Saint Georgios, Kyrenia.
A few words about our pilgrimage:
We will start from Nicosia and head towards the roadblock of Saint Dometios. Then we will continue until we reach the occupied village of Saint Georgios Kyrenia. This is where the cave and the chapel of Saint Fanourios are located and preserved, where we will make our first stop. Then we will continue our route and visit the Panagra Dam. Our last destination will be Kormakitis where we will have time to rest.
A few words about the history of the cave:
According to tradition, when the Saint was being pursued by the Saracens, he arrived by swimming on his horse from Asia Minor and got out on the rock. There his horse died and his petrified bones were visible on the rocks. In this cave, the Saint hid and was saved from the enemies. That cave was dedicated to the Saint and became a sacred pilgrimage. The chapel of Saint Fanourios, built in 1973, can be seen white as a dove on the rocks.
At the entrance to the cave, there are fossilized bones, which must be protected, since popular tradition believes that they are the remains of the horse of Saint Fanourios, while scientists believe that they may be fossilized bones of a dwarf hippopotamus (Fanourius minutus), perhaps beyond 20 thousand years old.
A separate custom was the "Pittes of Saint Fanourios". It was a kind of confection made for the grace of Saint Fanourios. They took it to church on Sunday or the feast day of the Saint. It was distributed to the faithful after the service in memory of the Saint with the wish "God bless the mother of Saint Fanourios".
In the cave chapel, service was held twice a year: on Thursday of the Ascension and on August 27, the name day of the Saint.
Cost of participation (per person):
20 euros/person
** Payment will be made on the bus (Ignore the automatic payment message you will receive).
The price includes:
- Escort and organization
- Transportation by bus
You must have with you:
- ID card
- Personal items
- Snack
- Water
Note 1. When you click to book, state in the message where you will take the bus from.
Note 2. For the best functioning of the event and for safety reasons, participants must comply with the instructions of the attendants.
Note 3. In case of cancellation of the event due to bad weather conditions, the excursion is moved to another date. Participants unable to participate on that date will be refunded. However, if the weather conditions do not allow the event to occur again, the event is permanently canceled and everyone is refunded. In case of cancellation by the participants, 7 days or less before the event date, the money is not returned.
Note 4. Photographic material is shared on our page and social media after each event. By participating in a Salonica View event, you also accept the sharing of photos otherwise, as you inform us.
