Ancient Panayia tou Araka

Welcome to the old Panayia tou Araka in Cyprus, a very prominent 12th century church of Our Lady of the Pea, lucky enough to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It just stands outside the Lagoudera village and over exaggerates some of its best wall paintings of the late Comnenian style 1192 prevailing throughout the Balkans, Greece and Russia. Really, along with churches of Asinou and Agios Nikolaos tis StegisIt, it looks awesome and its breathtaking backdrop makes it one of the eye-catching Byzantine churches on the island. The local priest of the church lives in the premises adjacent to the church and is the one who can escort you to the church and help you in discovering its inner beauty. Panayia tou Araka, one of the ten painted churches of the Troodos, is described as the little gem of craftsmanship, meticulously enclosed by the wild peas and lush trees. Its architecture is small size, and is overshadowed by its wooden trellis and snow-proof roof that covers it wonderfully. Do not forget to dress up decently till the time you are here and also leaves your camera at home as photography is not at all welcomed. Its inner is highly spirited with the presence of ravishing murals, vibrant colors, and other decoration and therefore exudes the same grandeur as it used to in times gone by.