Empa, Cyprus

Coordinates: 34°48′N 32°25′E / 34.800°N 32.417°E / 34.800; 32.417
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Empa
300
Panagia Chryseleousa
Empa is located in Cyprus
Empa
Empa
Coordinates: 34°48′N 32°25′E / 34.800°N 32.417°E / 34.800; 32.417
Country Cyprus
DistrictPaphos District
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total4,855

Empa (

Tala, Tremithousa and Mesogi. It has a population of more than 4,000 people.[2][3]

History

The village already existed by the

King of Cyprus, Peter I (1359–1369), quoting "...and the king went hunting and reached Emba towards Paphos...".[4]

Louis de Mas Latrie includes the village both amongst those that belonged to the family of the king of Cyprus during the period of Frankish rule, and as one of the king's villages that cultivated sugarcane. During 1468 the village had fallen under the region of Chrysochous, under the regional law officer (bailliage).[5]

Etymology

The appellation of the village is purely Greek, belonging to the Cypriot dialect. In this dialect Emba means "enter". It is possible that the name of the village was given because it is built at the entrance of Paphos, that is the edges of the city, through which the travellers from the north, northwest and west came in. Another version mentions that the name was given to the village because it is situated near the coast from where people departed from or arrived to Cyprus by sea, during the Byzantine era or even later during the period of Frankish rule. It is mentioned that King Peter I departed for Europe from the area in 1362. The village is noted as 'Emba' in medieval maps.

Monuments

The ancient church of Panayia Chryseleoussis is in the community. Built in the 12th century in

Virgin Mary and Saint John Precursor. In the church is also found a Gospel from the 16th century, which was printed in Venice
. Thousands of tourists visit the church each year to admire its architecture and the wonders it contains.

There are also a number of chapels in Emba such as the Byzantine chapel dedicated to Saint George (in the vicinity of

Saint Mercurios, the Chapel of the Five Saints (Ayioi Pente): Efstratios, Afxentios, Evgenios, Mardarios, Orestis), the Chapel of Saint Paraskevi, and the Cave of Saint Kournoutas
at Petridia.

Recently a new church was constructed near the old one; it was dedicated to the apostle Andreas (

St. Andrew
) and on his name day, 30 November, a religious festival is held on the church grounds.

Economy

Emba has a few shops and tavernas dotted along the narrow winding road that runs through the village. In the evening the local men can be seen sitting outside their local coffee shops and often spilling out onto the narrow roads on their wooden chairs.

Personalities

Outstanding personalities of the village of Emba include the Bishop Anthimos of

Baghdad, Iraq) who was born at the village of Emba and died in 1791, Nikolas Solomonides who was the private secretary of the Dragoman of Cyprus Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios, but also a poet and an intellectual, his brother Andreas Solomonides who was a nobleman and was employed at the Ottoman Court (seraglio) in Nicosia and thus saved the church of Emba from being destroyed by the Ottomans
, but also the villagers of Emba from paying taxes to them after 1821. They both lived during the end of the 18th century and early 19th century. Another outstanding personality from Emba was Father Christodoulos (1816), a great priest of the village.

Notes

  1. ^ "Population - Place of Residence, 2011". Statistical Service of Cyprus (CYSTAT). 17 April 2014. Archived from the original on 16 October 2014.
  2. ^ "Emba, Paphos". Cyprus Island. 2019-01-05. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
  3. ^ "Paphos, Emba - Property Canvas in Paphos". www.property-canvas.com. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
  4. ^ "Emba Paphou - Cyprus". Cyprus. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
  5. ^ "Empa". in-cyprus.philenews.com. 2019-01-10. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
  6. ^ "Emba community". Archived from the original on 2012-08-11. Retrieved 2008-08-09.
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