- Address: Kato Paphos, Paphos, Cyprus
- Working hours: 8.00 - 18.00
Cyprus - a place of congestion of many Christian shrines. One of them is the catacombs of Saint Solomon in Paphos . Originally they were used for burial, but at the dawn of the 1st century AD the catacombs became a haven of Christians. Its name was given to the catacombs in honor of Solomon, the Great Martyr, who, according to legend, is buried in one of the caves. It is believed that Solomonians settled here in the II century, together with their children, fleeing Palestine. Soon she was seized and killed with her sons for allegedly observing Jewish customs. Now she is among the Christian martyrs.
Inside the catacombs
Inside lead two entrances. One is next to the souvenir shop, the second - near the road fork. The second entrance is best not to use: it leads to gloomy and narrow passages, which, as a rule, end in a dead end.
In the catacombs of Saint Solomonius, there is a huge amount of evidence of those far times, which is why this place attracts Christians from all over the world as a magnet. One such evidence is a room in the form of a cross. In an excellent form, the underground church with numerous frescoes has been preserved. Solomon and her children in the catacombs are dedicated to a cave called "Cave of the Sleeping."
Separate attention deserves a holy spring, located in the catacombs. Previously, it used the first Christians. And now, despite the fact that due to the constant flow of tourists, the water in it is not so clean, it is believed that the source has medicinal properties.
Interesting Facts
Near the entrance to the catacombs of Saint Solomon, a pistachio tree grows. A legend is associated with it. It is believed that if a person leaves any of his things on the branches of this tree, he will say goodbye to all his illnesses in a year. Therefore, the tree is literally hung with all kinds of kerchiefs, beads and other objects up to the shoes. It is also believed that this tree fulfills desires.
Artificial lighting in the catacombs, of course, is, but it's pretty dim. Therefore, going on an excursion, do not forget to take a flashlight with you.
How to visit?
You can get to the catacombs of Saint Solomon by taking several stops by bus number 615 from the central bus station of Paphos .
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