A few months ago I visited Anogyra, a quiet, picturesque village in the Troödos mountains half-way between Limassol and Paphos. The road is narrow and steep in places, but this is common to most Cypriot villages. Anogyra is renowned for its carob trees and its annual pastelli (carob toffee) festival, when the process of pastelli making is demonstrated. On the way, I came across the 15th century ruins of the Timios Stavros monastery, which is built on the site of an early Christian basilica. The church contains paintings produced during the Palaeologan Renaissance period (c. 1261–1453).
Unfortunately, the Carob Museum was closed when I was there and the local shop did not stock any of the famous pastelli, but the beautiful scenes of the village made the journey worthwhile.
The village is characterized by the stone houses and cobbled square in the centre. It is an ideal retreat from the city for a few hours or a longer stay in the tourist cottages.
The region is also known for its olive oil production. The old olive press, pictured below, testifies of this tradition throughout many centuries.
Reflection
To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:
A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away; A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak; A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
These words, which are attributed to King Solomon, could sum up the course of history. When visiting a village such as Anogyra, which has been in existence since Neolithic times, the mind contemplates the past. Times have been tumultuous; there have been wars and rumours of wars, famines, earthquakes and pandemics, yet Solomon concludes in verse 11 that God has made everything beautiful in its time.
With eternity in our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11), we know that deep, lasting peace comes only from the God of eternity. He has procured salvation through the atoning death of Christ, which He offers freely to all through faith. While much tribulation is yet to come in this world, God will one day make all things beautiful, both on earth and in eternity (Romans 8:18-25).
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