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July 13: The Holy Sunlights of Cyprus are celebratedtranslated

July 13, 2026 · 1 min read

Today, July 13, our Holy Orthodox Church holds a Synod of the Archangel Gabriel and honors the memory of Saint Stephen of Sabvaitos and of Cyprus Saints Heliophotos, Epaphroditus, Ammonios, Houlelais and Eusthenios. The Saints of the Sunlights were among the three hundred Saints who came to safely continue the monastic life on our apostolic island, after the second Latin Crusade in the 12th century.

When their ship was wrecked in the waters of Paphos, due to a strong storm, the faithful ascetics scattered to Cyprus and continued their ascetic life in the places they chose. This fact once again confirms that Cyprus remains from the first Christian centuries scattered with Ascetics and places where the Holy Triune God is worshipped. The mountain ranges of Pentadaktylos and Troodos, between them Mesaoria and the peninsula of Karpasia bear witness to this with the multitude of sacred monuments.

The Saints of the Sunlights, after wandering for a long time, climbed to the top of Mount Koroni, near the current village of Kato Moni, and set up their hermitage in two caves.

One of these ascetics, Heliophotos, was both a priest and a spiritual father...

Source: Orthodoxia News Agency · Read the full story →

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Irina Dumitrescu

I remember the holiday when we went up with the children to the Kykkos Monastery and stopped at Kato Moni. I didn't know about these caves of Sfinti Hliofoti. It's impressive how they got there exactly after the shipwreck at Paphos, it's like the hand of God.

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ქეთევან კვარაცხელია

I remember when we were in Troodos with the children and we passed by Katho Moni. I didn't know there were coppers of Hiliophotos and the rest up there on the top of Corone. God has really blessed them from Paphos till now.

Симона Илиевска

I passed through Kato Moni a few years ago when we went with my family to Troodos. I did not know that right on the peak of Koroni above the village there were caves of these saints who arrived after the shipwreck at Paphos. Now that I've read it, it seems to me that it really isn't a coincidence that they gathered right there.

Teodora Ionescu

Yes, Kato Moni is right on the way to Kykkos, I've been there a few times with my family. Those caves are modest, almost hidden, but you can feel the silence there. Did you go all the way up to the cave with the kids or did you just stop in the village?

Radu Constantinescu

Yes, I also passed through Kato Moni a few years ago when I went to Kykkos with a friend from Iasi. The cave of Hliofotos is right up on Coroni, modest as Irina says, but the silence there grabs you immediately. Did you also feel something special when you arrived with the children or was it more of a road stop?

Ana Lungu

Yes, Kato Moni is right, I passed by with my husband two years ago when we went to Kykkos. The caves are small and humble, but the silence there grabs you immediately, as if stopping you in your tracks. Did you and the children climb to the top or were you satisfied with the village?

Vasile Constantinescu

Yes, that little cave above is just like that, it seems to pull you in without wanting to. The boys and I climbed all the way up three summers ago, but we stopped longer at the spring below, where the water is ice cold. Did you smell that wild basil on the trail too?

Дарко Николовски

Yes, Simona, I have also passed Kato Moni several times on our way to Troodos. It is interesting that they gathered at Koroni, as if the place had called them. Did you manage to climb a little higher or did you just pass through the village?