Gerakies

Gerakies is a village of Nicosia in Cyprus and it is situated 75 km southwest of the homonymous city, 65 km northwest of Limassol, 119 km northwest of Larnaca and 98 km northeast of Paphos. A settlement amphitheatrically built at an altitude of 925 meters on a hillside of the green valley of Marathasa and close to the emblematic monastery of Kykkos and Kalopanayiotis, Gerakies of the about 100 inhabitants is a picturesque village with cobbled streets and traditional stone houses. Due to the cool climate in the summer and the beautiful and quiet natural environment, it is a good opportunity for a trip away from the bustling urban centers.

In the past, the community had many inhabitants, but like most of the villages in the Cypriot countryside, it was “hit” by the 1960-70 wave of urbanisation. In the past years, the locals cultivated almonds, figs, apple trees and walnut trees. They were occupied in vineyard cultivation, wine production, zivania (local pomace brandy) and palouzes (traditional sweet jelly made out of wine), the production of tar pitch from the pine trees (with the pisokamino, the tar kiln of the village serving as a reminder) or they worked in the mines of Amiantos, Mavrovouniou-Chromiou and Foukasas. When the mines were closed, many emigrated abroad and today, the remaining inhabitants produce and market the famous soutzoukos, rose water from the local roses and produce trachanas.

One version regarding the origins of the community’s name indicates that during the Frankish rule the feudal lords of the area domesticated the many hawks living on the slopes and used them for hunting (geraki in Greek means hawk), but the predominant version refers to the many priests (ieris in Greek) who lived there. Around the village there were many settlements, Agios Georgios, Agios Nikolaos, Milia, Agios Sosomenos, Agia Triada, Dikolon, Khartzia, Dexamenis and others, with each settlement having one or two priests. Every time they all met officially, they gathered in Gerakies and signed as “En tes ieres ikies (In the holy house)”, which became gradually “Gerakies”.

In the area, along the road that leads to Kykkos and after the bridge, there is a tavern-cafeteria and a Cultural Center, while at its entrance there is a monument dedicated to Haralambos Antoniou, missing since the Turkish invasion of 1974.

Significant religious attractions for the settlement are the stone-built church of Agios Georgios with the imposing bell tower that took its present form in 1915 and the stone-built chapel of Agios Nikolaos, which is under the auspices of the Department of Antiquities. Previously, the temple was much larger and belonged to a monastery complex established by priests expelled from Syria at the end of the Frankish occupation. Inside the sanctuary were found the money with which Agios Georgios was built. In the village there is also the holy source of Saint George that was revealed in 1971 after the vision of a local woman. Also, beside the chapel of Agios Sozomenos, patron of the old settlement, one can find Agiopetra, which was used by the saint as a place of prayer and asceticism and is considered miraculous for young children.

Kato Vrissi, a very old stone-built spring in the middle of a lush landscape surrounded by vines and cherry trees, was the main source of water for the community in the past, while the "Komma" site offers a panoramic view of the village. Finally, for those who love walking, just outside Gerakies, there is the circular Nature Trail Ariadni, which is about 4 km long.