Panagia Chrysaliniotissa (Our Lady of the Golden Flax Church), Nicosia

Tucked inside the Venetian walls of Nicosia’s old city, just steps from the Famagusta Gate stands Panagia Chrysaliniotissa-Our Lady of the Golden Flax-widely recognized as the oldest surviving Byzantine church in the Cypriot capital. Though often dated to 1450, when it was rebuilt by Queen Helena Palaiologina, the church's origins likely stretch much further back. Some sources suggest that a Christian sanctuary existed on the site as early as the 5th century, later destroyed during Arab raids.

The name “Chrysaliniotissa” stems from a legend dating to the 11th century, when locals are said to have found a hidden icon of the Virgin Mary and Child among flax plants growing in the ruins. The miraculous discovery prompted a revival of the site’s sacred significance, with the church eventually rebuilt under Queen Helena’s patronage during the Lusignan era. As a Byzantine princess married into the Latin royal court, Helena was a key figure in reasserting Greek Orthodox identity in Cyprus, particularly after the fall of Constantinople in 1453, when she welcomed fleeing Byzantine nobles and clerics.

The church is a rare and atmospheric example of late Byzantine architecture, with its stone structure, gently curved arches, and tranquil garden surroundings. Inside, it houses an exceptional collection of rare and historic icons, some centuries old, reflecting its longstanding role as a center for Orthodox worship and pilgrimage.

Set on Chrysaliniotissa Street-a road named in its honor-the church remains an active place of worship and a quietly resilient symbol of Cypriot spiritual heritage. Its location, between the Flatro and Caraffa bastions near the Green Line, underscores both its strategic and symbolic importance across centuries of shifting rule.