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Selected and rare materials, excerpts and observations from ancient, medieval and contemporary authors, travelers and researchers about Cyprus.
 
 
 
 
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GIOVANNI MARITI
Travels in the Island of Cyprus
page 32

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I must not forget that outside the said mosque there is a column of granite on which used to stand a lion, the arms of the republic of Venice. In the garden of the Vigdaban, or Commissioner of the city, on the square opposite the mosque, there are some columns of mottled marble which may be relics of buildings which once stood in the square. The mosque of which I have spoken is the only Turkish place of worship in Larnaca. The Greeks have three churches, St John, their cathedral, and the residence of a prelate who bears the title of bishop of Citti, where properly he should live; but that being now reduced to a mere village he lives here with his train. The next in rank is that of our Lady, called Crusopolitisa, where they preserve an ancient picture of the Virgin ; the third is St Saviour. These they hold without hindrance, and each is served by a Greek priest called κοσμικός tcpcvç ; the inhabitants of both sexes assemble there three hours before dawn, at daybreak they must have completed all the ceremonies and celebrated the single mass which is said in each church. The Fathers of Terra Santa have a church called St Maria di Larnaca. It is divided into three aisles, but each being shut off from the other they form three different chapels. In the middle one is a touching picture of the Virgin Mary : that on the right is set apart for women, who throughout the East, even among Catholics, are divided from the men : a custom only maintained in churches of the Latin rite on account of the prejudices of orientals. The chapel on the left, dedicated to St Francis, is used as a choir for the monks, where we may note a fine organ, the gift of the Emperor Leopold. St Maria is the parish church of the whole European colony in Larnaca, and here they are bound to fulfil the well defined duties of Catholic Christians. In the convent are two large dormitories, and a refectory, with two good paintings by an unknown but skilful hand, one represents our Saviour washing the Apostles' feet, the other the 28 Of the City of Larnaca [CH.

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