Yeroskipou

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Yeroskipou is a coastal town east of Paphos. It's current population is about 7,000 and it is the second biggest municipality of Paphos District. Geroskipou with its remarkable five-domed Byzantine church of Ayia Paraskevi, and its Folk Art Museum is known for many years now for its special delight `loukoumi'.

According to the tradition, implied even by the name of the town, in greek mythology, Yeroskipou is the place where Aphrodite had her "gardens", thus the name "yeros" from the greek word "ιερός" which means holly and "kipou" from the greek word "Κήπος" which means garden. Pilgrims from Nea Paphos passed through Yeroskipou before reaching the temple of Aphrodite, at Kouklia. Goddess, donations, sacrifies and many other activities in honour of Aphrodite were taken in that place. Even currently a cave in the town is called Bath of Aphrodite.

Strabo mentions Yeroskipou, calling the settlement Ierokipis. Many other travellers have written that in the coastal plain of Yeroskipou there were centuries old olives and carob trees.

In the 11th century, the five-domed Byzantine church of Agia Paraskevi was built, somwhere in the middle of present day settlement. It is also mentioned that at Moulia, a coastal locality of the town, the miraculous icon of Panagia of Khrysorogiatissa was found by the monk Ignatios, who carried it to Rogia mountain from where the monastery took its name.

The mayor of the municipality of the town is Tasos Kouzoupos.

[edit] Reference

• Touring Guide of Pafos by George and Christina Karouzis