Holy Church of Panagia Paradeisiotissa

This historic church is located in the occupied village of Spatharikon in the Famagusta district and is dedicated to the Virgin Mary Paradeisiotissa. It is a small, single-space vaulted church of the Byzantine period, which strongly preserves the marks of the traditional stone building of the medieval years. Owing to the events of 1974 and the Turkish occupation, the church was abandoned and suffered wear, remaining violently closed to the displaced flock of the community, while its name continues to inspire the creation of modern Orthodox hagiographies with deep religious symbolism.