Rising at the entrance to Geroskipou, the ninth-century Church of Agia Paraskevi is one of Cyprus’s finest Byzantine basilicas. It’s rare for a five-domed, three-aisled design to bathe the interior in soft light, revealing nearly eight centuries of fresco cycles.
The church is dedicated to Saint Paraskevi, patroness of eyesight and healer of the sick. Every 26 July, local families gather for an evening vigil, bringing bottles of olive oil to be blessed and later used for anointing loved ones. This custom binds liturgy to village life.
Among the treasures is a double-sided fifteenth-century icon: on one face, the Theotokos with Christ, on the reverse, the Crucifixion. Its refined style hints at the vibrant icon workshops that once served western Cyprus, proving that Geroskipou was more than a stop on the pilgrim road to Pafos.
Practical tips: The church is open most mornings, and photography without flash is permitted. For a whole cultural morning, pair your visit with Geroskipou’s folk art museum and a taste of its famous loukoumi (a Cyprus delight). Modest attire is requested, and donations for conservation are welcome at the narthex desk.
Takeaway: Stand beneath the central dome and watch sunlight dance across centuries-old frescoes. You will understand why generations of pilgrims called Agia Paraskevi “a small heaven on earth.”