Menoiko
Menoiko is a village in Nicosia and it is situated about 33 kilometers southwest of the homonymous capital of Cyprus, 80 kilometers from Limassol, 75 kilometers from Larnaca and 120 kilometers from Paphos.
During the Frankish domination, the Akakiou and Menoikou area were owned by a noble Frank who had two sons – thus, he shared his estate between them and so the two villages were created.
Built at an altitude of about 250 meters above a basin crossed by the Serrahi river, to the northeast it is full of olives, while a large plain spreads to its southwest. Menoiko is divided into two neighborhoods, on the “Trachonas” hill you can see the newly built houses and going down the road you meet a bridge that connects the two sides of the village and the old settlement with the brick-built houses and their large courtyards.
Opinions differ as to whether Menoiko is spelled with an “i” or “oi” to this day. The most prevalent version regarding the origins of the name of the village, however, is the legendary Menoikeas, the son of the king of Thebes, Kreon, who had settled in the area during the movements of the Greek tribes to the south-east. Tradition, on the other hand, claims that in the past the river washed away all the houses apart from one (and so it left a single house, which in Greek is monos oikos), while the most modern explanation results from the composition of the words “meno (stay)” and “oikos (house)”.
Menoiko was first inhabited since the 6th century BC, a fact supported by findings of excavations that brought to light a small farm sanctuary dedicated to the god Baal – Ammon, the ancient Cypriot god of shepherds and farmers, therefore there probably existed in the area small agglomerations of livestock farmers. During the Frankish rule, the settlement was a feud of Domenico de Giblète of Nicosia, who kept a mansion in the village, while during the Ottoman domination several Ottomans settled there, exploiting the best estates.
The church of Agios Kyprianos, built by King Petros in the 14th century, which is one of the largest pilgrimages of Cyprus and receives a large number of visitors from abroad, is located in the village’s core and is a jewel of Menoiko. Every year in October there are 2 festivals held in the Saint’s honor, one for the Cypriots and one for the old calendarists that come to the settlement in scores. There one can worship the relics of Saints Kyprianos and Justine, but also the miraculous icon of Saint Kyprianos, which is said to protect against spells and evil actions. In addition, in the village the visitor can see the chapel of Panagia Mother of the Children, built in 1864 on a cave (northeast of the community), where according to the tradition, two young princes have been lost. This particular temple is considered miraculous for the sick children and many mothers have hung tributes on the surrounding trees and shrubs. It is also possible to visit the small church of Agios Georgios Tropeoforou of the 16th century, as well as the chapel of the Saints, protectors of the Couples, Agios Andronikos and Athanasia (east of the community), dating back to 1523 AD, in which Saint Andronikos lived with his wife.
In the area of Menoiko, there are the ruins of the old watermills, which, when they were operating, grated wheat and barley. There is the restored elementary school, which is also an attraction of the village, while there are plans to create a large restaurant and accommodation for the better service of the tourists.