Tsakistra
Tsakistra is a village of Nicosia in Cyprus and it is situated 92 kilometers southwest of the homonymous city, 76 kilometers northwest of Limassol, 137 kilometers west of Larnaca and 72 kilometers northeast of Paphos.
Built at an altitude of 800 meters in the upper part of the valley of the Kampos river and with the Paphos forest occupying a large part of it, Tsakistra falls within the geographical area of Marathasa and is situated near the administrative boundaries of the province of Paphos with that of Nicosia. The mountainous relief with deep valleys, steep slopes and high mountain tops leaves little room for crops. Few vineyards of the winemaking varieties, fruit trees, dominated by cherry and apple trees, and less pears, peaches, plums and kiwis, are the crops that provide income and employment to the inhabitants of this beautiful mountainous village that counts about 100 permanent residents. Basic employment in the past was the logging and processing of timber with many workshops in the area, which then transported the treated timber to all the provinces of the island. The beautiful settlement is characterized by picturesque narrow houses with tiled roofs and flowering gardens, making it the ideal getaway for enjoying the fresh air, the unique nature of the area where agrino (local species of goats) lives, along with good food in the taverns of the village or a enjoyable coffee in its cafe.
Regarding the origins of its name, there are several versions, with the more prevalent being that, since the area was a dependancy of the Kykkos Monastery, there was a place where the monks tsakizan (meaning “broke open”) olives, almonds, nuts or other products. Another version says that they broke (tsakizan) their “kouzes” when they were going to fill them with water in the village’s only drinking source and a third version talks about Tsakistra, an inaccessible area for hikers. Finally, another version refers to the path of Kambos-Kykkos, which, when it came out of the village, had a tsakisma, a branching of the road, with one leading to Kykkos and the other to the settlement.
Historically, there is evidence of the community existing under Turkish occupation, even though it is probably much older than that, as findings of settlements have been excavated, dating back to antiquity. During the Byzantine period, the wider region was an area of mining activity with copper, iron and sulfur extractions, while during the period of the Arab raids from the 7th century onwards, the area was a refuge for the inhabitants of Solon. The settlement appears to have been created by the arrival of Greeks from Arcadia and Constantinople in the 15th century, while during the Ottoman domination Tsakistra was occupied by the soldiers of the Nicosia Guard, who, when they left, gave the village estates to the Kykkos Monastery, making it its dependency. Gradually, the workers in the suburbs and the fields founded the settlement and acquired their own property. In the most recent village history, after the Turkish invasion of 1974, Greek Cypriots were displaced to Tsakistra, mainly from the occupied Morphou plain.
The main church is dedicated to Agios Nikolaos and constitutes a one-aisled basilica building of the 16th century, namely of 1500, renovated in the 1990s. The bell-tower was built in 1903 and has a bell constructed specifically for the temple, as is indicated in an engraved inscription, while on the wooden icon screen there are the ancient icons of Christ, Virgin Mary, Saint Nicholas, Prophet Elias, John the Baptist and John the Theologian. Some of the icons had been brought here from ruined chapels of the area, such as St. Mamas and St. Anastasia. In the sanctuary is also a wall fresco of the Virgin Mary, as well as the remnants of seven saints, Saint Philip, Saint Paraskevi and other saints.
The Virgin Mary of Helikon is a semi-destroyed stone church with a reconstructed roof with tiles, while on top of a hill northwest of the village is the semi-open chapel of Prophet Elias with a roofed courtyard of 1995. On the eve of its celebration on July 20, the faithful ascend to the chapel, with the priest of the community at the head of the procession, which is followed by a great vespers mass and a litany.
Undoubtedly the attention of those arriving to this mountainous part of Cyprus is sparked by the iconic Kykkos Monastery, perhaps the most important monastery in Cyprus, founded in the 11th century and welcoming thousands of visitors every year. A little further north is the Throne of Virgin Mary with the tomb of Archbishop Makarios III and its huge statue of 10 meters high. The Monastery and the Throne are about 8 km and 9 km respectively from Tsakistra. For those who like walking, the Panthea Nature Trail offers a unique 10.1 km route, passing through a pine tree forest with rich bushy vegetation. If the hiker is lucky, he may also encounter the only agrinos that wanders in the Paphos forest and is a goat species that is only found in Cyprus.
The Tsakistra dam, about 4 kilometers west, and at the site of "Mavres Sykies" creates a landscape of unique beauty, while serving the arable areas of the community.