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COMMUNITY COUNCIL OF
MITSERO
40 Arch. Makariou C' Avenue
2622, Mitsero
Tel: 22633177
Fax: 22634116
URL: www.mitsero.org.cy
E - mail: info@mitsero.org.cy
CHURCHES > ARCHAGGELOS MICHAEL

The village's church is dedicated to Archangel Michael and particularly to the Archangel's "miracle at Chonae". The "miracle at Chonae" took place in Colossea of Phrygia where the river came down impetuously and -while it was about to enter the village and drown its inhabitants -the community's priest prayed to the Archangel. He descended from the heavens and struck the ground with his spear, the river vanishing in its depths and thus granting life to the village. For this reason, as well as due to the fact that there are several rivers in Mitsero's region, the inhabitants dedicated the church to Archangel Michael in fear of floods.

The first church, which was standing where today's is, was built very sketchily. It was made with sun-dried bricks, its roof was made of beams and tiles and was very small.

The date 1796 was recorded on its icon screen and also that it was renovated by a certain Chistodoulos and his wife. The old church must have been in existence for about a century.

Inside the church there are icons of the Archangel, which were made in the end of the 18 th century and in the beginning of the 20 th . However, there is also a very old icon, blackened by the passage of time. It is large and heavy, made out of huge planks that are spliced in the middle. The Archangel's figure is imposing and it's as if his glance slashes through you like his sword. Traces of gold shine around his head and his garments.

Around 1890 the population had increased and the old church could not accommodate them all. So, the inhabitants decided to build another church in place of the old one. All the inhabitants constructed the church with voluntary work and with expenses paid by them. This reveals that the village had a strong social structure.

Papacharalampos was the priest at that time, playing a leading role in the construction of the church, and Symeon Hadjisymeou was the head of the village council. The church was built with hewed stones, which were taken from an area of the village, transferred by livestock, and cut and carved by the technicians.

It has a single aisle with three apses that end up at the top. In order to construct the church, the various tasks were assigned to the village's families per week. The women and the girls brought the water from the river and the men assisted the builders.

The new church operated in 1896. The first priest that officiated in it was 95 years old. It has a woodcut women's loft. The kneeling-desk is of excellent craftsmanship and is decorated with rose windows, cones, and birds, as well as a wooden eagle with its wings spread that supports the icon. It was made in Kaimakli in 1915 and was delivered by a carriage dragged by six horses.

There are icons dating back to 1796, which must have been made when the first church was built. The Archangel's large icon, as well as that of the Virgin Mary, were made in Mount Athos in 1906 and were intended for the new church. The icon screen was replaced in 1990 after a donation by G. Kourelia
.

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