The Churches of the Anglican Church of Paphos
St. Paul and St. Barnabas visited Cyprus in 45 AD (Acts 13 verses 5-12) and converted the Roman proconsul Sergius Paulus and he became the first Christian ruler and Cyprus the first Christian country. Tradition has it that St. Paul was scourged in Paphos at the pillar near this church. This church is, therefore, often known as “The Church by St. Paul’s Pillar”
The church of Ayia Kyriaki Chrysopolitissa was built around 1540 AD as a Latin Church on the site of a small church which was destroyed in 365 AD by an earthquake.
- 45 AD St Paul and St Barnabus come to Cyprus and Paphos. It is here that Saul becomes St Paul. The story can be found in Acts Chapter 13 s. 5-12 of The Bible
- 365 AD A major earthquake destroys much of Cyprus including Paphos
- 386 AD A Basilica is started to be built in Paphos. It was seven-aisled and the largest in Cyprus. When completed it became the seat of the Bishop of Paphos, then the senior bishop in Cyprus. The Bishop’s palace was built on flat land to the left from Ayia Kyriaki
- 536 AD Following another earthquake the Basilica is refurbished under Bishop Sergius as a five-aisled building
- 653 AD The Basilica is destroyed by Arab invasion and another earthquake. The mosaics and some pillars are all that remain.
- 900 AD A small Byzantine church was built where AK now stands and remained the Cathedral of the Bishop of Cyprus
- 1159 AD Another major earthquake badly damages Paphos including Ayia Kyriaki
- 1220 AD St Francis of Assisi visits Cyprus and Paphos
- 1312 AD Franciscans built a church on the site over four caves known as ‘The Caves of St Paul’
- 1500 AD Ayia Kyriaki was refurbished into what is the present church and is noted as a ‘plaster painted’ church. A small example can be seen on a brick above the Bishops’ chair
- 1540 AD The Franciscan church was refurbished by crusaders, incorporating St Paul’s Pillar in the entrance way
- 1573 AD The Turks invade Cyprus and the Franciscan church becomes a Mosque. Ayia Kyriaki is left alone
- 1600 AD The Franciscan church collapses
- 1734 AD The Bishop of Paphos moves his cathedral to Ktimi
- 1984 AD The Bishop of Paphos entrusts Ayia Kyriaki, which is empty and derelict, to the Roman Catholic Community
- 1985 AD The first Roman Catholic Mass was offered in Ayia Kyriaki
- 1987 AD Archaeological works were undertaken at Ayia Kyriaki which is when the mosaics and pillars were discovered
- 1988 AD The Anglican church take up the offer by the Roman Catholic Community to use AK for divine worship. The Orthodox Church still uses this building for special occasions.
