The Church of the Revealed Mother of God, or Agia Phaneromeni, is a small Orthodox church that was built in the center of Larnaca relatively recently. It was erected on the site where an older Byzantine church once stood.
At the base of the church, a tomb has survived to this day, which, according to historians, dates back to ancient times (8th century BC). This tomb was cut directly into the rock, and it served as a kind of secret cave temple. Early followers of the Christian faith came here, and they could have been caught and executed for it without trial or investigation.
Now many believers strive to get into these caves specifically in order to receive healing there; at least, that is what folk rumor says. To get rid of pain, one needs to walk around the chapel three times and leave a lock of hair or part of one’s clothing by the southern window.
Inside these caves or catacombs (their correct name is “Saint Phaneromeni Rock-cut Tomb”), you can see many icons of the Mother of God. A new, more spacious church was recently built next to the church. Since then, believers from all over the world have come to visit the ancient shrines and venerate the icons of Our Lady Phaneromeni.
