| Cyprus has seen many invaders and rulers
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| | in fact one of the first empires to
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| come and go over the years including the
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| | accept Christianity and this too has its
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| Roman empire. Before the arrival of Rome
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| | roots in Cyprus. Round about 45 AD the
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| the Island was under the control of Egypt
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| | Apostle Paul accompanied by Barnabas and
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| around the time of Queen Cleopatra. Much
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| | Saint Mark set off on his first
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| bargaining was done between her, Mark
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| | missionary journey to spread the Gospel.
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| Antony and Caesar himself as she
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| | They arrived first at Salamis which is
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| attempted to hold onto what was left of
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| | now in the occupied North of the Island
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| her empire. In fact Cyprus was
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| | before traveling to Paphos. It was here
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| temporarily passed over to Cleopatra
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| | that Paul was bound to a pillar and
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| first by Julius Caesar and then later by
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| | received 39 lashes for preaching the
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| Mark Antony only to revert to Roman
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| | gospel to the Greeks. Visitors to Paphos
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| control in 30 BC as a senatorial
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| | can see this pillar next to the Church on
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| province. The events leading up to this
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| | Apostolou Pavlou Avenue (St Pauls Avenue)
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| time have been well documented and most
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| | near the church of Saint Kiriaki. Whilst
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| readers will be aware of some of what
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| | preaching in Cyprus the Apostles were
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| went on between this passionate power
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| | obstructed by a local Magician known as
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| crazed love triangle. It looked like the
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| | Bar Jesus and Paul sent him temporarily
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| Romans where here to stay but for them at
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| | blind in Gods name. The then Governor of
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| least the saying "all good things come to
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| | Cyprus Sergius Paulus was so amazed by
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| an end" was eventually to ring true.
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| | all this that he converted to
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| Empires rise only to fall so the Romans
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| | Christianity and so Cyprus became the
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| were not destined to remain in Cyprus for
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| | first Christian state in the world. Saint
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| ever and although they left a lasting
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| | Lukes Gospel vividly describes in great
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| legacy on the Island it is Greek culture
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| | detail Pauls journey into Cyprus.
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| that has survived the test of time.
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| | Evidence of the Roman occupation of
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| Under Roman rule Cyprus remained in peace
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| | Cyprus can be found all over the Island
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| or "pax romana" as it was known for over
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| | and there are numerous guided tours
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| three hundred years until 115 AD. At this
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| | available too. Paphos is a great place
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| time the Jews inspired by a belief that
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| | for the start of any cultural expedition
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| the coming of their Messiah was imminent
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| | because there is lots to see all in one
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| started a revolt against Rome on the
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| | place. A short walk from Paphos harbor
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| Island. They were led by a man called
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| | itself is a beautifuly restored roman
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| Atermion a Jew who had taken a Greek name
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| | ampitheatre where you can listen to
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| as was the custom at the time. There were
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| | concerts and watch dramas throughout the
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| hardly any Roman troops stationed in
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| | summer months. Close by are the excavated
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| Cyprus at this time which explains why
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| | houses of several Roman nobles including
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| the revolt grew so quickly. The Roman
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| | the famous house of Dionysus with its
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| emporer Trajan dispatched one of his
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| | fabulous mosaic tiled floors. The mosaics
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| generals to the Island and the rebellion
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| | are made from thousands of tiny cubes of
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| was quelled. Historians say that 24,000
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| | stone and marble into intricate images.
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| Jews were massacred on the Island by this
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| | They are in remarkably good condition
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| roman army but there is a likelyhood that
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| | despite being around two thousand years
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| the actual numbers were significantly
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| | old. With sites dotted all over the
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| less. Following the revolt a decree was
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| | Island including the ancient City of
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| issued that Rome would forbid any Jew to
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| | Salamis in Northern Cyprus you should
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| ever set foot in Cyprus ever again even
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| | never be very far from seeing some
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| if shipwrecked.
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| | evidence of the Romans in Cyprus.
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| Many people will be aware that Rome was
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