Geroskipou

Geroskipou Γεροσκήπου (Greek) Yeroşibu (Turkish)
Municipality
UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code	8200
Website	http://www.geroskipou-municipality.com

Geroskipou (

The Classical writer Strabo mentions Yeroskipou, calling the settlement Ἱεροκηπία (Hierokepía Hierokepis). Many other travellers have written that in the coastal plain of Yeroskipou there were centuries old olives and carob trees.

In the 11th century, the five-domed Byzantine church of Agia Paraskevi was built in the middle of present-day settlement. It is also mentioned that at Moulia, a coastal locality of the town, the miraculous icon of Panagia of Khrysorogiatissa was found by the monk Ignatios, who carried it to Rogia mountain from where the monastery took its name.

In 1811, Sir Sidney visited Yeroskipou and met Andreas Zimboulakis, appointing him as a vice-consul of

In 1821, the village had 30 adult male Turkish Cypriots and 76 adult male Greek Cypriots. By 1911, the village had a population of 602, with 477 Greek and 125 Turkish Cypriots. In the next decades, the Greek Cypriot population grew rapidly while the Turkish Cypriot population declined: in 1931, there were 751 Greek Cypriots and 105 Turkish Cypriots. In 1960, the village had a population of 1722, with 1552 Greek and 170 Turkish Cypriots.^[4]

A British firm set up a factory for silk production in 1925. Hundreds of workers both from Yeroskipou and the surrounding villages were employed in it. However, the factory closed in 1952. It is also mentioned that at Yeroskipou there was also a linen-processing factory.

In 1952, the small Turkish Cypriot population of the village mostly spoke Greek. The village lived off agriculture and Turkish Cypriots were mostly better off than their Greek neighbours, though many villagers lacked titles to land and worked as daily labourers. The village did not have a mosque and the Turkish Cypriot villagers at times went to the church for their Muslim worship and practiced some Christian rites at Easter. In 1952, efforts were underway to rebuild the roads of the village, Turkish language courses were scheduled for Turkish Cypriot children and the school building was in ruinous condition.^[5]

In 1964, following the

• 
  Agia Paraskevi Byzantine church
• 
  Agia Paraskevi church in Yeroskipou

Twinnings

• Agia Paraskevi, Greece (2000)
• Fouras, France

References

• Touring Guide of Pafos by George and Christina Karouzis