Church and Cave of St. Phanourios in Northern Cyprus

The Church and Cave of St. Phanourios are located not far from Girne, in the Karaoğlanoğlu area, next to the Kaya Palazzo hotel-casino. There is a large but unorganized parking area nearby. The cave is small — about 4 m²; icons are usually placed inside and oil lamps are lit. The feast day of St. Phanourios is celebrated on August 27.

• Church of St. Phanourios
• Cave of St. Phanourios
• Who was St. Phanourios?
• How to get to the cave and church
• Frequently asked questions

Church of St. Phanourios

The church, built on the seashore, is named after St. Phanourios, who is revered for helping people find lost items and “revealing” what is hidden. The modern building is relatively new and its design differs from that of many other Christian churches in Northern Cyprus.

Cave of St. Phanourios

The cave is located below the church, closer to the water. People come here to honor the saint’s memory and pray for help in finding something that has been lost. According to legend, a monk named Phanourios (the saint’s namesake) lived and prayed in this cave. He arrived here by boat and died in the cave after slipping on a rock.

Inside, there are many icons with inscriptions in different languages, most often Greek, and oil lamps are placed on the rocky ledges. The cave is small — about 4 m².

Who was St. Phanourios?

St. Phanourios (Phanouris) is a saint venerated in the Greek Orthodox tradition, about whom few detailed historical accounts have survived. According to tradition, his icon was discovered in the ruins of an old church on Rhodes, Greece, in the 14th century. In the icon, the saint is depicted holding a candle in one hand and a cross in the other.

The name “Phanourios” is associated with a Greek word meaning “I reveal.” On the saint’s feast day, celebrated on August 27, services are held and Fanouropita is baked — a traditional cake shared with family and friends.

Fanouropita is a traditional cake baked for the feast day of St. Phanourios, August 27, and shared with family and friends.

How to get to the cave and church

The church and cave are located not far from Girne, in Karaoğlanoğlu, next to the Kaya Palazzo hotel-casino. There is a large but unorganized parking area nearby.
Location

How to get there

1. Park in the nearest open area; the parking is unorganized.
2. Plan to descend to the cave in comfortable footwear: the approach leads along stone steps by the rock.

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Frequently asked questions

Where are the Church and Cave of St. Phanourios located?

Not far from Girne, in the Karaoğlanoğlu area, next to the Kaya Palazzo hotel-casino.

Is there parking nearby?

There is a large but unorganized parking area nearby.

Which is more interesting: the church or the cave?

The cave usually attracts more attention: icons and oil lamps are placed inside, and the site itself is located by the water in the rock.

How large is the cave?

The cave is small — about 4 m².

When is the feast day of St. Phanourios?

The feast day is celebrated on August 27.

What is Fanouropita?

Fanouropita is a traditional cake baked for the feast day of St. Phanourios and shared with loved ones.