The church of Agios Riginos and Agios Orestis

In the center of the village you will meet the one and only church which is dedicated to two saints Agios Riginos and Orestis.

The church was constructed around 1970 and it is situated in the same area where the old church of the village was built. It is a basilica with a dome.

On the outside it is white and the bell tower is tall and arched. It has only one bell. The church is quite big and its capacity is 200 people.

The yard of the church is big and the floor is cemented. One part of the yard’s fencing is made of stones and the other half is made of a metallic baluster.

On the inside of the church you can see many wall paintings which were made with the contribution of the entire community. In the sanctuary there is a depiction of Panagia Platitera and on the right and left stand Agios Riginos and Agios Orestis. In the central dome you can see the Pantokrator and below the prophets and the Nativity and Resurrection of the Christ.

The iconostasis is wooden and very simple but the holy icons are very old. According to an inscription which was found on the icons, it is believed that the icons were made in 1856. These icons were placed in the previous church and after the construction of the new one; they were restored and transferred in this church. The icon that is dedicated to the two saints is placed on the iconostasis. The two psalters are wooden, simple and they were recently made. The despotic throne has carved decoration and it is also recently made. There is also a gallery for the women.

It is said that the icon of the saint is thaumaturge for the flu and many people asked for his help. The feast day of the two saints is on 20th August. 

The life of Agios Riginos and Orestis

Agios Riginos and Orestis were born in Chalkidonia which is in Asia Minor. Their families were nobles and the two young men grew up with care and love.

Below we will say some words for the life of the brave Christian Riginos and his friend Orestis.
The Roman name of Riginos was Vonomilix. When he joined the army, he sold everything he had and donated the money to the poor. Free from anything material he lived as a good Christian keeping a fast and eating bread once a day. Even though he was in the army with many idolaters, he prayed to God and he did not mind if he was seen by others. His co-soldiers decided to tell about his behavior to Prezentinos Stratilatis who ordered Riginos to appear in front of him.

The archon asked from the other soldiers to tell him the name of the Christian and they did. So, the archon asked him if all these he learned were true. Riginos answered bravely “Whatever they want to say against me, let them say it”. Prezentinos knew everyting but he just wanted to listen to his excuse. Then he asked him to make sacrifices to the Gods in order to let him go but Riginos refused to do it. So, Prezentinos ordered him soldiers to punish him. They put him on earth but Riginos asked for God’s help and managed to stand all the tortures and the thwacks of the soldiers who gashed his flesh.
The soldiers were tired but Riginos glorified God who helped him to stand all these. Prezentinos asked his soldiers to bring a copper board and put fire on it. Then they put on Riginos, completely naked, in order to burn him alive. Fortunately, God had heard his prayers and did not abandon him. Riginos remained on the board and did not burn.

The miracle surprised all the people who watched it. Thus, Prezentinos asked Riginos for the last time to make sacrifices to the idolaters and he would forgive him. He offered him gifts and glory, or else he threatened to throw him into the sea. Riginos did not accept his offer and told him “Keep the gifts and honors that you offer me for yourself and enjoy them in hell where you will definitely go. I am not afraid of the sea, everything is made by God and he will help me.

The archon was furious with his answer and he ordered his men to put Riginos in a big bag and seal him in. Then they gave the bag to some sailors and asked them to throw him into the sea.

When they threw him, they saw that the bag had opened and the saint came out. Then two dolphins passed from there and carried him safely to the beach. When some people saw the saint coming out from the sea, they called more and more people and the news spread very soon. His friends Orestis also came to the beach to see him. The archon witnessed the scene and thought that something magic has happened.

Orestis proselytized many idolaters. Prezentinos asked his soldiers to arrest Riginos, Orestis and many of the new Christians. They were sent to prison and he would decide how he would kill them.

While Riginos was in prison he talked to the other prisoners about God and about the Gospels. They were all very happy despite the difficult situation and they prayed to God. The next morning the doors suddenly opened and all of them all came out of prison. Riginos, Orestis and some other new Christians went in Cyprus where Christianity had not come.

When the group came in Cyprus, some of them lived far from the rest of the world but Orestis and Riginos chose to proselytize the idolaters. Some ruins which were found in the area, demonstrate that there used to be a pagan temple. When the idolaters learned about the two friends and their mission, they arrested them and chop off their heads.

They were buried secretly by some Christians who were witnesses in the scene.

The feast day of the two saints is on 20th August.

The chapel of Agios Georgios in Apliki
 

The chapel of Agios Georgios is the old church of the village. It is placed near the old settlement where today you can just see the ruins. The chapel still stands and it was restored. The old settlement was abandoned and the church remained there standing alone. The church is situated 2 kilometers far from the new village (which has changed its location in 1940 by the English government). The exact date of its construction is unknown but an inscription which was found on the icons reveals that it was built around 1856. It is stone made, its form is rectangular and it has arches.

In 1955 the chapel was used as a shelter for the fighters of EOKA who tried to hide from the English conquerors. As a result, the chapel had many damages, but the community decided to restore it. In older times the cemetery of the village was situated in the yard of the chapel.

It is a very small church and its capacity is 100 people maximum. In 1995 the community of Apliki has restored the roof of the church and they constructed a new iconostasis. There are very few seats and no wall paintings. The icons of the church are very old. An inscription found on some icons reveals that they were made in 1856. Some of these icons were taken in the church of Agios Riginos and Agios Orestis.

The chapel celebrates mass once a year, on Easter Monday. The feast day of Agios Georgios is usually during Easter holiday and the community of Apliki decided to honor his memory on Easter Monday. The same day there is also the Resurrection ceremony. Lots of people from many villages and cities visit the church.