Church and Cave of St. Phanourios in Northern Cyprus

One of the few Christian churches in Northern Cyprus is interesting not only in itself but also in its surroundings and history.

• Church of Saint Phanourios
• Cave of Saint Phanourios
• Who is Saint Phanourios
• Phanouropita Recipe
• How to Get to the Church

Church of Saint Phanourios

The church, built on the seashore, is named after Saint Phanourios, known for his miraculous ability to help people find lost things and reveal hidden truths. The temple was originally erected after the saint's death in his memory. Today's church building is relatively new and somewhat different in design from other Christian churches of Northern Cyprus.

Cave of Saint Phanourios

This is where pilgrims come to honor the saint's memory and pray for the recovery of something lost. According to legend, this cave was the home and place of prayer for Monk Phanourios, the saint's namesake, who arrived here by boat and died in this very cave after slipping on a stone. Inside the cave, there are numerous icons of Saint Phanourios with inscriptions in various languages, mostly Greek. There are also burning lamps on the stone ledges. The cave is small, about four square meters.

Who is Saint Phanourios

Saint Phanourios, or Fanourios, is a somewhat mysterious figure. According to tradition, his icon was discovered in the ruins of an old church on Rhodes (Greece) in the 14th century. The saint was depicted holding a candle in one hand and a cross in the other, surrounded by scenes of his martyrdom. The discovery of this icon led to the spread of his veneration, and churches dedicated to him began to appear throughout the Greek Orthodox world, including Cyprus.

Despite the lack of detailed historical records about his life, the veneration of Saint Phanourios is widespread, with many believers trusting in his power to help find lost items and intangible things like jobs.

The name "Phanourios" comes from the Greek word "phanerono," meaning "I reveal." This is quite fitting, as many people pray to Saint Phanourios to "reveal" lost items or solutions to problems. On his feast day, which is celebrated on August 27, special services are held and "Phanouropita" - a traditional cake - is baked and shared with family and friends.

Phanouropita Recipe

Ingredients:

• 4 cups flour
• 4 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 cup oil
• 1 cup and 2 tbsp sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup golden raisins
• 1/2 cup dark raisins
• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
• 3/4 cup orange juice
• grated zest of one lemon
• a pinch of salt
• powdered sugar for dusting

Preparation:

• Mix the flour and cinnamon in a large bowl
• In another bowl, mix the oil, sugar, orange juice, water, and lemon zest. Beat well
• Add the baking powder, salt, raisins, and walnuts to the first bowl. Mix well
• Add the dry ingredients to the second bowl
• Grease and flour a baking dish
• Pour the batter into the baking dish
• Bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees
• Cool completely
• Dust with powdered sugar
• Let the cake stand for a day before serving, so it better absorbs the flavor

How to Get to the Cave and Monastery

The church and cave are located near Girne, in Karaoğlanoğlu, next to the famous Kaya Palazzo hotel and casino. There is a large but unorganized parking space nearby. See the map below for the location, and here are the coordinates for your navigator: 35.3485790749449, 33.26279664895983.

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