Not far from Paphos, in the village of Yeroskipou, there is an ancient church dedicated to Saint Paraskevi. Scholars suggest that it was built in the IX century on the site of an older ancient temple.
Once, the Old Garden surrounded the church, created in honor of the goddess Aphrodite. They say that the road to her sanctuary passed through it. The Garden also contained a healing spring, to which all those suffering flocked to be rid of ailments and misfortunes. This spring exists to this day. It can be reached by descending a special staircase.
The Church of Saint Paraskevi is considered one of the oldest and most outstanding churches of the Byzantine period. It is a five-domed basilica, in the central part of which four columns are installed. The central dome rests on them. There are five domes in total, arranged in such a way that they form a cross.
Inside, the church is decorated with frescoes. The oldest of them date back to the XIII century. In addition, the church has amazing icons. For example, the image of the Most Holy Mother of God (in the iconostasis to the left of the Royal Doors), which was discovered in the XIX century. On one side of the icon, the Mother of God with Jesus Christ is depicted, and on the other, the crucifixion. The story of its discovery says that one evening a peasant noticed an unusual light in the area of Yeroskipou. He went to the place from which the glow was supposedly coming and found an icon among the bushes. Next to it was a homemade lamp - a small bowl filled with oil. The man took the icon and brought it to the church, where it still stands today.
