Sunday, October 14, 2012

Larnaka , Cyprus

One of the few countries I have managed to visit is neighbouring Cyprus  and the city of Larnaka so here you are the reminders of my trip . City was know in antiquity as Kition , being build by Greeks in 14th century BC and later colonized by Phoenicians. During its long history it got to know many rulers , Assyrians, Egyptians , Persians, Romans , Byzantines , Venezians , Ottomans & British ( I'm sure I've forgotten some ) until the Republic of Cyprus attainted its independence in 1960.Its most important attractions are the site of Ancient Kition , the Salt Lake near the airport , and the Church of St Lazarus. Tradition says that Lazarus ( yes the resurrected one ) was the first Bishop of Kittim ( Larnaka ) & the church is build on his (second) grave. This is the Orthodox tradition as the Catholics believed he had left Judea for Provence , France , according to this alternation the tomb is in Autun Cathedral . In the cards now ; 2 of them are showing the Larnakan promenade called Finikoudes ( palm trees in Cypriot-Greek dialect ) in day & night view while the 3rd one is showing and Salt Lake and it's famous Tekke . Hala Sultan Tekkesi or Mosque of Umm Haram is build where Umm Haram , a relative of Prophet Muhammad had died during the Arab seige of Larnaka ( According to the Shia belief her tomb is not there but in Saudi Arabia in Jannatul Baki cemetery of Medina.) Although it is considered one of the most holiest places of Islam it is not very frequently visited being in a Christian land.





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