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Historic & Cultural Resources

Old buildings stand as reminders of earlier times and include over fifty traditional arched houses, four olive mills, and numerous churches and religious buildings Of note in and around the village.

St. Auxentios Church:

Located at the east entrance to the village, this Orthodox church is a single aisle rectangular building with a vaulted roof, arches and a gallery. The structure standing today was restored in the middle of the 19th Century, but built on the foundations of earlier churches. It is dedicated to St. Auxentios who lived and died in Cyprus some time during the 6th or 7th centuries. A previous ancient church on this site was called the Chapel of Mavra.

The Story of St. Auxentios...

St. Auxentios is believed to have been a general of distinction in the Byzantine army who, after seeing a vision of the Virgin Mary, left the army to become a hermit. He journeyed to Cyprus and with him three hundred of his men. Upon arrival, each of them went in search of a place of recluse; Auxentios made his way to a cave at a place called Yudi, near the coastal village of Kaplica/Davlos, which is northwest of what is currently called Büyükkonuk. According to local legend, the body of the saint was discovered by peasants from both Büyükkonuk and Yedikonuk/Eptagomi villages. The inhabitants of the two villages could not agree on where to bury his remains and a dispute broke out. In the end, they decided to lay the body on an ox-drawn cart and see which direction the animals would go. The animals headed towards Büyükkonuk and stopped at the chapel of St. Mavra. When a ferocious altercation ensued between the two villages, the saint is said to have arisen and uttered a single word, “Gomi”, indicating that spot. Until then, the village had been known as Gomi; at that time, the word “Kebir” (holy) was added so the village became known as Komi Kebir.

St. Georgios Church:

Near the center of village and across from the primary school, this single aisle basilica is the largest of the village's Orthodox churches. It is of Latin design with a vaulted roof. The north entrance bears two dates: 1873 as the date of construction and 1898 as the date of renovation. The iconostasis is dated 1897. The sculpture of a two headed eagle, the emblem of the Orthodox Church, stands at the west entrance.

St. Vasilios Chapel:

Built during the Lusignian period (1192-1489), this single room rectangular building may never have been completed. Its walls appear to have stopped at the height of the doors. Being a Catholic church it was not restored by Orthodox followers and over the years has been allowed to slowly fall into ruin.

St. Georgios Parouzos Chapel:

Also dated to the Lusignian period, only the northwest corner of this structure remains.

St. Luke Church:

With elements dating to the 19th Century, this small single aisle rectangular building has a double slope wooden inclined roof and three stone arches.

St. Photios Church:

Set into a cliff, there are no roads leading to this Medieval Orthodox church but the view from the single room rectangular building is magnificent and well worth the climb along the suggested trail.

Panayia Kyra Church:

Located close to the neighboring village of Sazlikoy/Leivadya, this early Byzantine church dates to the 6th Century. Little remains of the original mosaics that decorated the apse as villagers believed that swallowing a piece of mosaic would cure ailments. Some 13th century candle smoke stained paintings can be seen high in the copula. Both a narthex and porch were added to this domed structure that is built in the shape of a cross. There is a well right in the middle of the little church.
 

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This publication has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of Büyükkonuk Eco-tourism Association can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union.