Information on Panagia Village
Panagia Village Photo © CyprusExpat.co.uk
Panagia Village, also known as Pano Panagia Village, is located in the Paphos District of Cyprus.
Panagia Village Photo © CyprusExpat.co.uk
The village lies close to Asprogia, Mamountali, Kannaviou, Statos – Agios Fotios, Kolineia and Galataria Villages.
Panagia Village Photo © CyprusExpat.co.uk
Panagia Village is one of the highest villages in Cyprus, built at an altitude of over 9000 metres above sea level.
The village is surrounded by natural forests and is also well known as the home of the rarely sighted Moufflon, a protected species, also the adopted emblem of Cyprus.
Panagia Village Photo © CyprusExpat.co.uk
The abundance of large forests around the village enabled the early villagers to become skilled carpenters. The villagers also became skilled lumberjacks, with the felling of trees, thus enabling the villagers to become craftsmen with wood, producing wood products for agricultural, household and commercial use. Panagia Village thrived on these products, with the revenue from the wood products enabling the villagers to become very wealthy.
Panagia Village is located in the Vouni Panagia region and has many vineyards producing local wines which are held in high esteem around the island and overseas. The inhabitants of the village also produce a large amount of Zivania, which is still mainly being produced in distilleries in the local village homes.
Panagia Village Photo © CyprusExpat.co.uk
Panagia Village has a steep history in religion, with it’s many churches still prominent in the village and the surrounding areas. The name of the village is dedicated to the Panagia “Virgin Mary”.
The Panagia Eleousa Church is located in the centre of the village and dates back to the 14th century. There is an old tradition which is still practised in modern times, and this is to wrap cotton around the church to prevent death to the village inhabitants from diseases.
Panagia Eleousa Church in Panagia Village Photo © CyprusExpat.co.uk
The Panagia Chrysoroyiatissa Monastery lies just on the outskirts of the village. The monastery dates back to around 1200 AD and is the custodian of rare Byzantine icons and other valuable religious artefacts.
Kykkos Monastery also lies a few kilometres from Panagia Village and we have more information on the Kykkos Monastery here