Milikouri

Milikouri is a village in the province of Nicosia, situated 90 km southwest of the homonymous capital, 70 km from Limassol, 120 km from Larnaca and 70 km from Paphos.

Built at an altitude of about 800 meters in the Troodos mountain range and in the geographical region of Marathasa, Milikouri is the closest village to Kykkos Monastery.

During the Middle Ages, along with other neighboring villages, Milikouri was a royal feudal estate of the Count of Riga. Historically dependent on the monastery of Panagia of Kykkos, under the emperor Alexios Komninos (11th century), the villages of Milon, Kourion were given to the monastery, which eventually united and created the present settlement.

Regarding the establishment and name of the village, although there are many different versions, such as that it was one of the seven villages that were located in the valley of the Plati river and whose inhabitants were slaughtered by the Karamanian Turks in one night, but none corresponds to real historical events. The most likely explanation for the establishment of the village of Milikouri is tied to the founding of Kykkos, since it was common to create smaller communities near monasteries, as they were occupied with the monks’ agricultural work. At the same time, this direct relationship of the monastery with the village and its inhabitants has resulted in many young people joining its brotherhood by offering valuable services to the people, such as the Archbishop of Ankara and later the Metropolitan of Lokris, Agathangelos Myrianthousis, Archimandrite Makarios Melifronisis, and Hieromonk Epiphanios.

The visitor can walk along the narrow alleys that ascend and descend throughout the settlement and admire the architecture of the Milikouri. One can visit the St. George’s three-aisled basilica of 1726 with the monument of the Missing from the liberation struggle of EOKA (also dedicated to Panagia Eleousa and Agios Minas), on the iconostasis of which one can admire historical icons, as well as the church of Agios Andronikos and Athanasia with the panoramic view of the village. Southeast of the settlement extends the valley formed by the river Platis with its beautiful riverside forest that will take the traveler to the Venetian Bridge of Jelefou. For those who dare, the Nature Trail Katouthkia passes from there (with a total distance of about 2500 meters) and offers a unique experience to those who hike it. Besides the pilgrimage to the monastery Panagia of Kykkos, another stop at Throni tis Panagias (the Throne of Virgin Mary) is almost mandatory, with the grave of the first Archbishop Makarios III.

In Milikouri the visitor can spend the night in the community hostels located on the precinct of the church of Agios Georgios or at the Kykkos Monastery. There are two restaurants and a traditional cafe (in the village square).