Ayias Solomonis Cave Church and Catacombs

Fabrica Hill Cave Complex

Useful Information

Location:	1 km from Kato Paphos port, near Fabrica Hill.
Open:	All year daily. [2020]
Fee:	free. [2020]
Classification:	Cave Church
Light:	bring torch
Dimension:
Guided tours:	n/a
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Ayias Solomonis Cave Church and Catacombs.
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History

Description

Ayias Solomonis Cave Church and Catacombs is dedicated to Saint Solomoni who was an early adopter of Christianity during Roman times.

It was in the time when the religion was forbidden in the Roman Empire and she had to flee. She took refuge in this limestone quarry, but they found her and walled up the entrance to the quarry and condemned her to a slow death. But when the wall was opened 200 years later she walked out alive.

The so-called catacombs are a quarry which was opened during the Hellenistic period. It seems it was at first a series of cave tombs, small chambers, which were probably already abandoned during Roman times. After the legend of Saint Solomoni became known the place became a Christian pilgrim destination. Believers left colourful pieces off cloth in the terebinth tree above the cave as offerings to the Saint for curing their ailments. During Medieval times the place became even more popular and was called The Chapel of the Seven Sleepers or The Seven Maccabees. Obviously the legend of Saint Solomoni was mixed up with the similar legend of the Seven Sleepers.

The cave is entered down a staircase into an open court. The church is in the cave behind and has remains 12th century frescoes.