Karpasia

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Karpasia has two geographical meanings on Cyprus.

[edit] Karpass Peninsula

The peninsula of Karpasia is a long, finger-like peninsula that is one of the most prominent geographical features of the island of Cyprus. Its farthest extent is Cape Apostolos Andreas, and it's major population centre is the town of Rizokarpaso (Turkish: Dipkarpaz).

After 1974, followed the Turkish Invasion of Cyprus and Turkish occupation, the Turkish-Cypriot authorities officially changed its name to Kırpaşa. However, the change of the name is invalid by international community because the Turkish Cypriot authorities are authorities of an administration (the TRNC) which is not recognized by any country except Turkey.

[edit] Karpasia town

Karpasia, also Karpasion (sometimes mistaken for Karpathos) is said to have been founded by the Fenician King Pygmalion near Cape Sarpedon, now Cape St. Andrea, at the extreme end of a peninsula on the north-east shore of Cyprus, a short distance north of the modern Rhizokarpaso.

As Carpasia, its Latin name, it still is a Roman Catholic titular bishopric in the former Roman province of Cyprus. Its first-known bishop, St. Philo, was ordained by St. Epiphanius in the fourth century; he has left a commentary on the Canticle of Canticles, a letter, and some fragments. Hermolaus was present at the Council of Chalcedon in 451. The chroniclers mention three other names, and a fourth occurs on a seal, all without dates. Another is quoted in the "Constitutio Cypria" of Alexander IV (1260).

The see was suppressed in 1222 by the papal legate, Cardinal Pelagius, but it figures in later episcopal lists. During the Latin (crusader) domination, the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Arsinoe (modern Famagusta) was obliged to reside at Rhizokarpaso.