Agia Kyriaki Chrysopolitissa is a unique and historically significant church located in the heart of Kato Paphos. Its name means “Saint Kyriaki of the Golden City.” The church is a living testament to centuries of layered history, as the current structure is built upon the ruins of a much larger, 4th-century early Christian basilica, one of the grandest ever constructed on the island. The site is most famous for the pillar within its grounds that is traditionally believed to be the place where Saint Paul was flogged. Today, it serves as a place of worship for multiple Christian denominations, making it a powerful symbol of faith and continuity.

Name and Address

• Name: Agia Kyriaki Chrysopolitissa (also known as Panagia Chrysopolitissa or St. Paul’s Pillar).
• Address: Located at the corner of Apostolou Pavlou Avenue and Agias Kyriakis Street, Kato Paphos, Cyprus.

How to Get There

The church is a major landmark in the main tourist area of Kato Paphos and is very easy to access.

• By Foot (Recommended): The site is an easy walk from the Paphos Harbour and is located just a short distance from the Kato Paphos Archaeological Park.
• By Bus: The main Harbour bus station is a 5-10 minute walk away, serving routes from all over the Paphos region.
• By Car: There is public parking available on the streets surrounding the site, but it can be limited during peak times.
• Visitor Tip: The archaeological site surrounding the church is open to the public, and there is no entrance fee. You can freely wander among the ruins and visit the church. Remember to dress respectfully when entering the church itself.

Landscape and Architecture

The landscape is a fascinating open-air archaeological site with a functioning church at its center.

• A Church Amidst Ruins: The most striking feature is the current, smaller stone church standing in the middle of the extensive, excavated foundations of the original, massive seven-aisled Byzantine basilica. Visitors walk across raised wooden walkways that crisscross the ancient ruins to reach the modern church.
• Layered Architecture: The site is an architectural palimpsest. You can see the original, intricate mosaic floors of the 4th-century basilica, the massive granite columns that once supported its roof, and the simple, more rustic form of the later 13th-century church that was built after the original was destroyed.
• St. Paul’s Pillar: Within the archaeological complex, near the church, stands a fragment of a marble column. This is traditionally identified as the pillar to which Saint Paul was tied and flogged with 39 lashes when he came to Paphos to preach Christianity in 45 AD.

What Makes It Famous

Agia Kyriaki Chrysopolitissa is famous for its direct connection to the Apostle Paul and for being a remarkable example of continuous worship on a site of layered history.

• St. Paul’s Pillar: Its primary claim to fame is the pillar where, according to tradition, the Apostle Paul was scourged. This event is a cornerstone of Christian history in Cyprus, as Paul went on to convert the island’s Roman Proconsul, Sergius Paulus, making Cyprus the first country in the world to be governed by a Christian ruler.
• A Living Archaeological Site: The site is renowned for being both an active place of worship and a major archaeological site. The juxtaposition of the modern congregation praying inside the church while tourists wander through the ancient ruins outside is unique.
• The Ruins of the Chrysopolitissa Basilica: The remains of the original basilica are famous in their own right. The sheer scale of the foundations and the beautiful, surviving mosaic floors give a sense of the grandeur of early Christianity in Cyprus.

Differences from Other Wonders

Agia Kyriaki offers a unique experience that sets it apart from other churches or archaeological sites in Cyprus.

• Apostolic History vs. Monastic Tradition: While a monastery like Kykkos is famous for a miraculous icon and its monastic tradition, Agia Kyriaki’s fame is tied directly to a foundational event in the history of Christianity itself—the missionary journey of the Apostle Paul.
• Ruins as a Forecourt: Unlike other churches, the main approach to Agia Kyriaki is across the ruins of its own predecessor. This provides a powerful and immediate sense of the site’s deep and layered history before you even step inside the current building.
• Shared Denominational Use: The church is unique in that it is used for services by the Anglican, Catholic, and Greek Orthodox communities in Paphos. This ecumenical spirit is a distinctive feature.
• A Site of Persecution and Triumph: The presence of St. Paul’s Pillar makes this a site that commemorates both persecution (the flogging) and triumph (the conversion of the Proconsul). This narrative is a very specific and powerful part of its identity, different from the more general history of other ancient sites.