Agios Mamas Lemesou
Agios Mamas Lemesou is one of the villages of the homonymous province in Cyprus and is situated 23 km north from Limassol, 92 km east of Larnaca, 72 km southwest of Nicosia and 87 km east of Paphos.
Nestled in the eastern foothills of the Zalaka mountain in the southern range of Troodos, at 600 meters altitude in the geographical region of Pitsilia, Agios Mamas Lemesou with the approximately 100 inhabitants is one of the koumantarochoria (“wine villages”) of the island with many vineyards (with xynisteri and sultanas) and olive, almond and fruit trees.
Historically, the settlement has existed since Byzantine times, since it was established by the Akrites (Akritai, army units guarding the borders) of the Byzantine empire, who were given land to live on and to protect the island from the Arab attacks of the 7th century AD.
The name of the settlement came from the homonymous patron saint of the Akritai, Agios Mamas. During the Turkish occupation, the Turks came here, so the inhabitants of Agios Mamas were expelled from the area and moved to Finiki, one kilometer further north and stayed near the small church of Agios Georgios (St. George), the other patron of the Akritai.
Today in the small village visitors can enjoy a coffee at the traditional cafe-tavern or delight in a sweet preserve. If you want to spend the night in the community, there is a touristic accommodation that provides all modern comforts. Attractions for visitors are the cultural center of the village with its rich library, the local winery, a war memorial of the resistance war of 1955-1959 against the British occupation (Andreas Demetriou and Michalakis Karaoli who were the first to be hanged by the British in 1956), the Museum of Folk Art and Tradition of Agios Mamas with traditional local objects, a small Wine Museum and of course the churches of the village. The main church is obviously dedicated to the homonymous saint, Saint Mamas. According to tradition, Saint Mamas in 1720 appeared to the village priest, asking him to build a church at the same site where the old one stood.
Furthermore, the community also has the chapel of Agia Paraskevi, the chapel of Agios Silas and the chapel of Agios Georgios.
It is noteworthy that Agios Mamas, is one of the oldest clubs in Cyprus founded by the teacher of the village in 1898, but what the village is widely known for, is the palouze (“grape jelly”) festival of Agios Mamas.