Agios Konstantinos Lemesou

Agios Konstantinos Lemesou is a village of the homonymous province in Cyprus and is situated 28 kilometers north from Limassol, 72 kilometers west of Larnaca, 70 kilometers southwest of Nicosia and 93 kilometers east of Paphos.

A small koumantarochori (wine village) of about 200 inhabitants, built above the southern foot of the Papoutsa mountain and at an altitude of 760 meters in the Pitsilia region, Agios Konstantinos Limassol has large vineyards, landscaped for the cultivation and production of local commandaria, almonds, olives, citrus trees, vegetables, vegetables in greenhouses and some livestock. Although historically the existence of the village is lost in the depths of centuries, most houses are constructions of the 20th century as people moved from the initial location of the village and descended into lower areas. Today some have started to renovate their homes, retaining their previous architecture.

The history of the village begins in the Byzantine era, when the village got its name, while during the Lusignan reign (1192 – 1489) it was one of the biggest villages in Cyprus. The Franks and later during the Venetian rule, it was the administrative center under the Order of the Knights of St John of Jerusalem and hence under the Order of Great Commandaria, which was established in Kolossi. During the Ottoman era Agios Konstantinos Lemesou was sacked and almost completely destroyed. Under the British rule, the settlement was revived again, and during the liberation struggle of EOKA in 1955-59 the village was very active, since here were located many hideouts and several residents were actively involved in the struggle for the independence of Cyprus. This is demonstrated by the relevant monuments in the community. A few meters from the new church of St. Constantine and Helena, there is a monument dedicated to Evangelos Moullotou, who lost his life in the Turkish invasion of 1974 and slightly below, there is a statue of the EOKA hero Yiannaki Christoforou.

The wider area of Agios Konstantinos Lemesou seems to be inhabited since ancient times, as is evidenced by the settlements found north of the village at the locations “Tsintou”, “Larmarka” and “Kleionerata”, with the then residents cultivating vines and engaging in copper mining. This is confirmed by the copper remains in kilns at the “Fountana” location within the village, while at “Miliara” was found a Roman aqueduct that ran from the sources Vrisatzi and ended in the settlement Miliara. The attractions for the visitors to the area are numerous. The olive mill, a restored beautiful building situated in the center of the village, within which you will find the machinery used for oil extraction, such as the mill, the “zebilia” (baskets), the storing jars and other.

At the bottom of the valley there is the local winery. Actually, it is said that in Agios Konstantinos Lemesou the production of Commandaria (local sweet wine), began a long time before the village was included in the region “Great Commandaria”, which run under the administration of the Templar Knights.

The youth center building that hosts various events and dance and crafts workshops, operates also as a cafeteria offering magnificent views.

The Agiopetra is a miraculous stone located in the homonymous location and according to tradition, it heals marks of the face, pimples or scars.

In the village once existed many churches, an indication of the population status and religious consciousness of the residents. These churches were St. George, St. Nicholas, John the Baptist, the Archangel Michael, St. Luke and Virgin Mary.

The old and the new churches of Saints Constantine and Helen are still in operation.

The old church is a 18th century building built to the location of an older Byzantine monastery, situated on the southeast edge of the village. Since 2006, when the new church was established, it serves as chapel and has been declared a Monument of the Department of Antiquities.

The new stone church of Constantine and Helen is a cross-domed church and is located near the elementary school.

The church of the Panagia Eleousa (Merciful Virgin Mary) was built in the 16th century, but was destroyed in a fire in 1900, from which only the icon of Virgin Mary survived (which is painted from both sides) and subsequently transferred to the Church of Saints Constantine and Helen. The church has been restored since 1996.