Agios Arsenios Church, Kyperounta
The Agios Arsenios Church is located in the village of Kyperounta in the Limassol district and is considered to be one of the most beautiful and majestic churches in Cyprus.
The particular church forms a milestone in the modern creation of temples on the island. The main reason is that it revives the rhythm of the early Christian five room wooden roof basilica church that existed in Cyprus from the 4th to the 7th century A.D.
The church of Agios Arsenios is built in an archaic form, with stone from the area, covered by a wooden roof which is based on four great wooden poles. The wood comes from the heroic mountains of the Greek Pindos. The interior of the church is made with thermo-soundproof materials, and the exterior is made with rectangular hooked roof tiles. The frames follows the formation of the churches in the area of Troodos and the pre-byzantine era, therefore they are rectangular without decorations.
At the northwest part is the great tall bell tower. It is at a height of 34 metres from the ground and gives the impression that it goes up to the clouds. The long windows look like battlements while the 135 steps lead to the rig with five bells from Paramythia of Epirus. From there one can see the panoramic view of the area, the Madari mountain range and the surrounding villages that spread out.
The interior is majestic through its simplicity. The three aisles are used for functional reasons. The two chapels of the temple are dedicated to Agia Filothei the Athenian and Agios Rapahel (north chapel), and to Agio Eftichi Patriarchi Konstantinopoleos (south chapel).
The 124 columns, with the Corinthian capitals and the carved pilasters, the bows with the embossed picture frames, as well as the groined-vaults create a feeling of awe and ascent. The colonnades of the main temple , symbolise the Apostles that go along with the believers towards the east , eternity , as they have placed strong foundations , have founded , supported and consolidated , the Church of Christ. Similar colonnades are repeated at the large gallery. Towards the west part of the church is a second floor which offers a panoramic view of the whole temple. There are 730 seats in the church so that the believers can follow the mysteries.
The decoration of the church is important with special symbols on the marble floor. It is made up of a variety of early Christian shapes on Greek marble with various colours. The basic pattern is made up of eight diamonds in a circular formation which symbolises the seven days of the creation of the world and the eighth day of eternity, in a circle that symbolises perfection.
Lastly, it is worth mentioning that the Agios Arsenios Church is an attraction for both local and foreign tourists.
