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Frenaros Village GENERAL FACTS Frenaros is a complex of the 16 villages of Ammochostos which are well known are Kokkinohoria(Red villages) for they have red soil which is very fertile. It is about 10 kilometers from Famagusta, and a part of it is in the ground of the British military base in Dhekelia.
TRANSPORT POPULATION NAME
A second opinion, says that the name, says that in the area of Holly Mary of Hortakiotissas, in the Byzantine era, and also in the Franks era, the area was occupied with monks and monastery’s. The area name Frenaria, in the French means the area where monks live. It is a mix word from Frenes(Monk) and aria(Area). Therefore Freraria and to sound better the Freraria became Frenaria, and in the Greek dialect it was called Frenaros. This Medieval settlement is located at 2 kilometers south from today’s village, and it is known as the old Frenarso, from the remainings, it can be seen that it was a big settlement, and from that today you can see 3 churches, The saint George, saint Theodoros and Holly Mary of Hortakiotissa. Churches go back to the 12th Century, from one side of the village to the other, and it is shows how immportand it was in the Byzantine era and afterwoards. Allthough the area was occupied long ago in the Pre-historic era, as it is proven by the findings of a settlement in the Neolithic era. ANCIENT MOMUMENTS Frenaros is filled with ancient momuments, both the Byzantine era and Medieval era which you pictures you can see on your left. In 1970 with the great contribution and help of the community, the big main church was built in the center of the village which is dedicated to Archangel Michael, in the same place where the old church is dedicated to the Archangel Michael too. It is of Byzantine type with dome and externally it is covered with stone. The tall belfry completes the wealth of the temple .It can host 200 – 250 people during the celebrations and Sundays. Internally the church is almost fully with hagiographies. Inside the sanctuary above the high altar, it is the showing with Platitera, in the big dome there is the show of the Almighty, the twelve Apostles, the last supper and many other saints. The temple of the church is wooden-curved ,the psalm books are wooden in simple decorations .In the temple there are three gates ,and on the right there is one more entrance where this is the special place with the saint icons of Virgin Mary. A huge icon, dedicated to Virgin Mary Saintagia (of hunting) of Byzantine Art, unique of its kind internationally, is saved in this place . It seems to be a donation from the people after the miracle that happened. We do not have accurate information though, since in the bottom of the icon there are three people .The dedicated icon of Archangel Michael is dated to be of the 18 th century and is saved in the sanctuary. Just above the west entrance in the narthex there is the loft, convenient and comfortable in the shape of a semicircle. Every Tuesday of the week there is a petition and confession in the church of Archangel Michael for those who wish it. In the end of the ceremony treats are offered to the people who are there. .During the Day of Archangel Michael on the 6 th of September many people gather to the church to bow and to bring their wishes to the saint.
The old church of the Archangel is in the center of the village next to the new one and it is a construction of the 14 th century. The church is made of stone. It does not function .It has been deserted. Recently, the Antiquity Department made some efforts for the conservation of the temple's roof, as well as for some icons .The old dedicated icon of Archangel Michael, 19th century, Cypriot Art, was sent to the Antiquity department for conservation. The iconostasis is not completed because a part of it is missing. Church of Saint Anastasios The dedicated church of Saint Anastasios is situated on the south east of the community .From information we had it seems that the old church was a ruin and because of that it was demolished. The new church was built a year ago , of monoklyte type ( one aisle ) with the expenses of the community. It is a small country church, externally fitted with stone of the fields as it is called. Internally it is white but not with hagiographies. The humble and plain wooden iconostasis is also present as well as the unique wooden psalm book with the few seats there are. It can host at least 50 people. It is a flat church with marble floor. It functions on the day of Saint Anastasios on the 17 th of September when a lot of people are there to bow. Country church of Saint Mary the Asprovouniotissa (white mountain) The country church of Saint Mary the Asprovouniotissa was built in the 15 th century and it is made of stone .It is situated in a place of around 40 kilometers out of the village on the southwest of the community on a hill. Even though it is too old you can vaguely see some of the wall paintings there are. The Antiquity Department makes some efforts for their conservation. The old iconostasis no longer exists since it has been recently replaced by a new one. It is a flat church and can only take in 50 people .The seats are not many to take in the people during that day of Saint Mary on the 8 th of September .The dedicated icon of Saint Mary is that of Saint Mary the Saetanagias,which is saved up in the church of Archangel Michael. After the ceremony which is conducted in the main church of the village a lot of people go to this church to celebrate with festivals the day of Saint Mary. Country church of Saint Marinas Just a few kilometers out of the village on the north east there is the country church of Saint Marinas. It is a building of the 15 th century. It is a small and plain church and can take in 50 – 100 people. Externally , it is made of stone . Internally it is humble and plain. There are also remainders of hagiographies. The iconostasis is wooden simple and humble with nothing special. It is a flat church internally with few seats . The dedicated icon of Saint Marinas is among the other icons in the iconostasis. During the day of Saint Marinas on the 17 th of July there is a big festival and crowds of people are gathered from the community of Frenaros but from the nearby areas for the standard worship. Country church of Saint Irene The old church of Saint Irene does no longer exist. We do not have testimonies for the date it was built. It was very old and was demolished. It was built on the north side of the village in a distance of a kilometre outside the community. The community though has started the building of a new church at the same place. The day of celebration of Saint Irene is not forgotten and it is celebrated in the big main central church of Archangel Michael. Country church of Saint Barbara On the east of the village and in a distance of 2 kilometers there is the church of Saint Barbara .It is a very old church but it did not last and was demolished. A year now the community has arranged for the reconstruction of a new church. It is a new temple and very carefully built. The building finished in 2004. Externally it is white of monoklyte type .Its iconostasis is wooden curved and has the capacity to take in 50 -80 people. It functions once a year on the day of Saint Barbaras on the 4 th of December. Country church of Saint Andronicos and Saint Athanasias Leaving the village, on the north east you will meet the church of Saint Andronicos and Saint Athanasias.It has been built since the 14 th century and it is of Byzantine type, moklyte with dome. Externally it is made of stone but internally it is humble. The few hagiographies that exist are briefly seen, most of them has been destroyed. The iconostasis is wooden simple but humble with the few icon to hang over it. Church of Saint Anargyron About one kilometre out of the village on the south east there is the church which is dedicated to Saint Anargyrous. It is a small and simple church, deserted, plain and humble that can only take in 15 people. Externally it is white and internally plain and humble .The simple temple separates the church from the high Altar and the main church. Internally it is a flat church. It functions twice a year .On the 1 st of November and 1 st of July.
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