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Lefkara
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Kato (Lower) Lefkara is a village of the Larnaca district and it is located about 34 kilometres south-west of the city of Larnaca.

The community is built on an average altitude of 480 metres. The terrain is hilly and the altitude in the north-east of the settlement reaches up to 417 metres ("Shinokefalos" hilltop). The landscape is fragmented by the rivers Syrkatis and Argaki, and of St. Minas, all tributaries of the Pentaschoinos river.

Kato Lefkara receives an annual rainfall of about 570 millimetres. In the village's limited cultivable land, vines (of wine-making varieties), olive, almond, and carob trees, a few citrus-trees, forage plants, broad beans, a few fruit-trees (fig, pomegranate, and plum trees), and very few vegetables are cultivated. However, the village's greatest part is uncultivated and wild, natural vegetation grows in it, mainly pine-trees, thorny burnets and brooms, sages (cistus), thyme, and wild carob and olive trees. As far as transportation is concerned, Kato Lefkara is connected to the neighbouring village of Pano (Upper) Lefkara in the north-west (about 1 km), with the village Kato Drys in the south-west (about 4 km.), and with the Skarinou Station in the south-east via the Nicosia - Limassol Highway (about 8 km).

The village has gone through several fluctuations of its population. In 1881 the inhabitants were 313, increasing to 334 in 1891 and to 349 in 1901, decreasing to 323 in 1911, increasing to 364 in 1921, again decreasing to 357 in 1931 but increasing to 405 in 1946. In 1960 the inhabitants numbered 304, decreasing to 225 in 1973, increasing to 256 in 1976, however decreasing to 210 in 1982. In the last census of 2001 the village's inhabitants were 118.

The art of needlework (embroidery) developed in Kato Lefkara, as also in the neighbouring village of Pano Lefkara, reaching to very high levels. A large variety of "lefkaritika" embroideries is manufactured, which are characterised by the affluence and the diversity of their designs.

The separation into Upper (Pano) and Lower (Kato) Lefkara was observed since the times of the Turkish domination, thus the latter village must have been established by banished Greeks. In earlier sources Lefkara is mentioned as a single settlement, obviously being Pano Lefkara.

The village was a strong and rich feud during the years of Frank domination and de Mas Latri includes it in the list of royal estates. Besides, in older maps the village is marked as Lefcara and / or Lescara.
However, Lefkara is one of Cyprus's villages that we know for sure it existed before the Frank domination era -during the Byzantine times -for which there are no sources that are adequately detailed. The village was claiming the honour of being considered as the birthplace of the significant Cypriot Saint Neofytos, who is however reported as being born in the neighbouring village of Kato Drys. It seems that local tradition attempted to compromise this dispute, regarding the Saint's decent, by relating that his parents came from "Apliki" -a settlement that existed between Lefkara and Kato Drys -moving however to Kato Drys (where the Saint was born in the 12th century) and later also residing in Lefkara.

The mediaeval annalist Leontios Machairas accepts the descent of Saint Neofytos from Lefkara. In any event, in one of his own writings, Saint Neofytos himself mentions Lefkara as the place of his origin.

There are three different interpretations regarding the name "Lefkara": the first supports that it comes from the words "Lefka Ori" (White Mountains), because the region has the white coloured, rough, limestone and fire-stone landscape as its main characteristic. The same natural, white colour of the region's rocks also characterises the appearance of all the stone-made houses, the paved alleys, and the dry-stone, protective structures in the fields, which were made with the local stone of the "White Mountains". The second interpretation supports that the villages received this name due to the tufts of small, white poplars that grew in their region. Finally, there is the opinion that perhaps the name came from some settler who was named Lefkalos.

Pano and Kato Lefkara, two entirely separate and independent villages, though with a common and interrelated existence, occupy a privileged position on the west, mountainous region of the Larnaca district. Built -side by side -on the edges and the foot of the Sotira mountain, the two villages are adjacent to the Neolithic settlement of Choirokitia and the monastery of Saint Minas.


The first written testimony for the existence of Lefkara under today's name is given by Saint Neofytos in his book "Typiki Diathiki", in which he mentions that he was born in Lefkara in 1134. The Saint's descent from Lefkara is confirmed by his relevant chant, which characterises him as the Glory of Lefkara. This watertight, chronological testimony reveals the existence of Lefkara -as a community -in 1134, which is placed in the end of the Byzantine era (395-1191). Undoubtedly, Lefkara continued their historic tradition and their cultural progress -as the same communal entity -throughout the duration of the Byzantine era.


The second historical testimony goes back to the times of the Frank domination (1191-1570) and reports that all the leading members of the military Order of the Templars were exiled in Lefkara in 1308 and for three years; their inadmissible behaviour obstructed the smooth operation of the Frank regime in Cyprus. In any event, it is reported that -during the 15th century -Sor de Naves, Constable of Cyprus, served as Lord of Lefkara.


CHURCH AND CHAMPLES

“Panagia Eleousa” (Blessed Virgin Mary the Merciful) is the central church of the village and liturgies take place in it quite often. It is located at the east end of the village in the midst of traditional houses. It is of the Byzantine style with a dome, stone-made, and relatively large for a community like that of Kato Lefkara, having the comfort of accommodating around 120 faithful. Externally it has a large and comfortable yard, which is slated. The church’s external wall is 120 centimeters thick. Internally the church is whitewashed. We will not come across any hagiographies but its woodcut icon-screen is unique in its kind, bearing carvings with representations of angels and lions. It is worth noting that above the icon-screen there are another two rows of icons, the so-called “dodekaorto” (twelve-pieces), depicting the most important moments of the Lord’s life such as the “Palm-bearer”, the “Ascension”, the “Resurrection”, and the “Raising of Lazarus”. The Psalters are new, made out of wood but of a modern, more recent design. About 25 years ago the church went through maintenance, the floor of the church’s interior was paved with new slates and the surrounding walls were scraped. As they were digging the floor so as to extract the old slates, they found earthenware jars at a depth of one meter below the earth’s surface. They were placed there so as to reverberate the sound of one’s voice. Furthermore, when they scraped the walls, again they found some small jars placed inside the walls. One arrives at the conclusion that in this way they achieved the reverberation of the Priest’s voice during Mass.

The icon dedicated to “Panagia Eleousa” is very old and it is kept at the church’s icon-screen. It celebrates in a festive manner on the 21st of November, Her Holy Icon being carried about in procession and many faithful from the surrounding region gathering in order to kneel before the Blessed Virgin and attend Mass.


Country Church of Archangel Michael in Kato Lefkara

The country church of Archangel Michael (12th century) is a moderate-sized church where the See of Kition and Lefkara was seated in previous times (during the era of Turkish domination). Back then it used to have cells and it functioned as the area hosting the Bishop. It is built in the Byzantine style with a dome at the south end of the village and in the midst of the community’s fields. It is not very large. Stone-made on the outside, being covered with painting of saints inside, it lacks a steeple and only the monastery bell (triangle) is present. On the right wall there is a hagiography of the Holy Veronica, a bit further the ones of the Baptism, Saint Neofytos, Saint Nikolaos, Archangel Michael, Saint Dimitrios, Saint George, and -in the large dome –the “Theotis tou Kyriou” (the Lord’s Judgment). The church’s icon-screen was old and has been renovated. The little church is small and plain. The icon dedicated to Archangel Michael is very old and it is kept in a special icon stand there in the country church. A liturgy takes place in it twice a year, on the 8th of November, which is Archangel Michael’s day, and on the 13th of July, the day when Archangels Gabriel and Michael are celebrated.

Country Church of “Agios Timotheos” in Kato Lefkara

"Agios Timotheos” (Saint Timothy) is a 15th century structure. The country church is located at the west end of the village, close to the community’s school. It is a small, stone-made country church of the Byzantine style with a dome, which barely can host 100 faithful. Inside it has an arch, which is in the area where the faithful pray. There are hagiographies but with the passage of time they have been distorted. The icon-screen is quite old and it has gone through maintenance in the past 20 years. The icon dedicated to Saint Timothy is very old and it is kept in the church of “Panagia Eleousa”. A liturgy takes place in it once a year during the Saint’s day on the 22nd of January, his Holy icon being transferred there so as to be carried about in procession. The country church does not have a steeple and the faithful are summoned only through the use of a monastery bell (triangle).


The Little Church of “Agia Marina” in Kato Lefkara

“Agia Marina” (Saint Marina) was constructed around the 18th century. It is a small church made of stone externally and located at the village’s center. Its structure is of the Byzantine style, simple and flat in its interior, though with hagiographies. Its steeple is tall and arched and it summons the faithful whenever a liturgy will take place. It has been recently renovated –around 1998. Outside the church there are guests’ houses, which formerly hosted the teachers that came from the surrounding regions so as to teach the children in the community’s school. The dedicated icon is split in two pieces (it was made that way) and it is placed upon a special, arch-shaped kneeling desk on the wall and that is where it is kept. A liturgy takes place in it twice a year, once on Saint Marina’s day on the 17th of July and on Easter Monday or Tuesday.

Country Church of “Agios Georgios” in Kato Lefkara

The small country church of Saint George is located east of the village of Kato Lefkara, on top of a hill. It is a small and plain country church that is externally made of stone. It does not have a steeple but only a monastery bell (triangle). Its interior is whitewashed and humble. It has a simple, woodcut icon-screen and a few seats for the faithful. The icon dedicated to Saint George is kept there in the country church -on a special kneeling desk that is adjacent to the wall -and it is quite old. A liturgy takes place in it once a year, during the Saint’s day on the 23rd of April.TOUR

Ascending the Skarinou – Lefkara road, you will find the country church of St George on your right and -right after that –the small but very beautiful and picturesque village of Kato Lefkara. The village is literally buried in green that -in combination with the sky’s blue and the unique, panoramic view that the region offers –presents to one’s eyes a vast calmness and serenity.

Entering the village, the country church of Archangel Michael is on the right, dating back to the 12th century. Following is the large parking lot that was created so as to serve the village’s visitors. The parking lot is located next to the village’s plaza, which is stone-paved. Around the picturesque plaza there are several shops selling the traditional (silk) embroideries of Lefkara as well as various other products. All the little alleys of the village are paved with stones and -combined with the old traditional houses –lend a different note to the area.

Advancing into the village you will see the “Panagia Eleousa” church. From this particular venue the view is unique. One’s glance can reach all the way to the shores of Larnaca.

Behind the church stands the first Elementary School, which is now destined to become a Museum of Needlecraft. Close by you can also see the old olive-press where the village’s inhabitants used to produce their olive-oil in old times.

Going uphill you will come across the village’s coffeehouse on your right and the country church of Saint Marina on your left. Continuing our journey through the village, we will come across the second Elementary School, which is also being renovated in order to be converted into a communal building, housing the needs of the Community Council and the Cultural Center where the young people will spend their free time in a creative manner.

A bit further up is the country church of Saint Timotheos. Following the ascending little road we will once again find ourselves in the stone-paved plaza of the village.

Through this short tour we have tried to give you a little taste of the Kato Lefkara community. It is up to you to make a visit to our village so as to see from up close that the things we described to you above are way too few to match reality.






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