Discover The Heart & History Of Axylou Village
Learn more about Axylou, an idyllic village in the picturesque mountains of Paphos!
Axylou Village History
Historically Axylou was almost exclusively inhabited by Turkish Cypriots. After 1953, about 35 Turks from nearby mixed Eledio were resettled in Axylou. During the intercommunal tensions of the late 1950s and 1960s, additional Turkish Cypriot families from surrounding villages moved in, so that by 1973 the village population had grown to 307 In the events of 1974, all Turkish Cypriot residents left Axylou for Northern Cyprus (mostly under UN escort by late 1975). Greek Cypriot refugees from the north replaced them, but many later moved on to larger towns, so the village has remained very small. Today the few local churches serving Axylou are actually in neighboring Eledio (e.g. the stone Church of St. Irene and modern St. George chapel). Axylou retains its traditional Turkish-Cypriot heritage in village architecture and community memory, and some historical photos or archival exhibits are reportedly kept in the community centre.
What To See In Axylou
Explore the neighborhoods and sights within Axylou Village.
Community Council
The Community Council building stands adjacent to the square and doubles as the local events hall. It is the local seat of government – as of 2017 the council president is Fotis Pisiaras. This office also contains the modest archives of Axylou’s history and administration.
Traditional Dairy Workshop
In the village is a traditional halloumi cheese factory, a small farm-based dairy producing halloumi, anari, yogurt and fresh cheese. This family-run workshop (with its own goats and sheep) follows Cypriot cheesemaking techniques, and visitors can taste or buy cheese on site. The factory itself is decorated with old cheese-making tools as part of an informal museum display.
Viticulture
The hills around Axylou are covered with vineyards. Grape cultivation is a key activity, reflecting the village’s long tradition of wine and raisin production . Vine training and pruning on terraced plots remain visible throughout the countryside, and local wine is still made in household presses or nearby wineries.
Main Village Square
Axylou’s main square is the heart of the village. It was laid out after the 1953 earthquake when the new houses and center were built. The square includes the Community Hall, which houses the Community Council and doubles as the local events hall for weddings and cultural events. There is also a small village park and children’s playground, shaded by cypress trees, along with a café where locals gather.
View More Images Of Our Beautiful Village Below!
Discover a handpicked gallery capturing the unique charm and spirit of Axylou!
The Cave of Saints Epiphanius, Chariton, and Alexandros
On a nearby hill just west of the village stands a small marble-carved cave shrine. Discovered during road construction, the cave resembles a carved tomb with a vaulted ceiling. According to local tradition, it honors three early Christian ascetics (Saints Epifanios, Chariton and Alexandros) who fled Roman Palestine and lived in seclusion here. The cave (bare and unpainted) is open to the sky and visited by villagers on the saints’ feast days.
Very little is known of their personal histories beyond legend. Cypriot sources (especially the 15th-century chronicle of Leontios Machairas) say these men were among a large band of 300 refugee holy men who fled the Arab conquest of Palestine in the 7th century. Machairas explicitly records: “in Axylou were the holy Alexander, the holy Charetis and another Epiphanios”. In other words, St. Epiphanios, St. Chariton (Χαρίτων/Χαρέτης) and St. Alexandros came from Palestine after 638 AD and practiced asceticism near Axylou. (He calls them part of the group of ‘Alamanoi’ or “300” saints – foreign clergy and laymen – who took refuge in Cyprus after the fall of Jerusalem) Aside from Machairas, there are no separate surviving vitae (life-stories) or Synaxarion hymns for these three. Thus their hagiography is largely legendary: they are treated as local hermits who achieved sanctity in seclusion.
References: pafoslive.com.cy , el.wikipedia.org , cyprus.terrabook.com
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