A Walking Tour of Part of Old Nicosia …
I have posted all of the pictures in order but since I do not understand how Blogger puts them up on the web, I can not be sure that they are in the order that I will discuss. So, happy hunting to see what I am talking about.
One picture shows me at the desk in the office where I spend a considerable time each and every day! I do see a slight slow down in demands for my time and I actually have some time to do the reports which I need to get done.
As Marian and I walked the city we only visited a small area of the old city due to the heat and our tiredness!! One picture should have a bougainvilla which has decided to use a nearby tree as its trellis - I thought the contrast in colours and methodology spoke volumes. It is just like us too infrequently isn't it? Our independency gets the better of us and we struggle on valiantly while others would be most excited to have the opportunity to help us out.
A few pictures depict the Famagusta Gate of Venetian origins (14th century). The thing that caught my attention was this old door which is clad in strips of heavy metal. It seems as if they added this for some degree of protection and each strip is individually bolted to the wooden back of the door.
The church in some of the pictures is the oldest church in Nicosia and was built by the daughter of the last queen of the Byzantine Empire in the twelfth century. Now you need to get someone who is an historian to actually see if the 'facts' that we were told actually align with history or have some of the dates been smudged? Anyway, it is a beautiful church for its antiquity and its colourful icons which are housed there. There is one picture taken outside which has several arches in it - can you find all six? The one with an arched door and darkish interior I call Invitation because it was such a mysterious encounter - the welcoming door and the dark interior of the church which had this spectre of gold glimmering as if to say, Come and see!
We did enter and saw the intricacies of the icon wall which separates the worshippers from the activity of the priest in their services. You can see many small icons and extremely detailed carving on this wall which is under the central dome. Not very high by today's standards but for that time, quite interesting!
The painting of icons is a very refined task and only after extensive training is one allowed to do painting of such precious treasures. Like the Jewish scribes, their work must adhere to the accuracy of timelessness and must not distort or alter anything of this representation which has preceded such icons in the past. One can be amazed at the diligence and detail in such artisanship, but ultimately one has to question why so much effort is put into something which I can only describe as idolatrous - the image of some one from the pages of history who we remember but also kiss and worship. Seems to be contrary to my reading of the Word!
There is a picture of the statue of the first Cypriot Archbishop Markarios which is larger than life depicting the role that he has in this culture and which his successors still hold. Marian mentioned the current election process now underway here as we speak.
The last picture is our shared meal - I am finding that these types go well with both of us. We get more variety and smaller portions. The salad is delicious - the greens are rugola (at least that is what the menu says!) and is sprinkled with balsamic vinegar and a little oil and then adorned with sundried tomatoes and pine nuts and then graciously crowned with the shavings of parmesan cheese and a sprinkling of oregano and pepper. The taste is exquisite and is a meal in and of itself! But when shared, the lasagna adds that needed carbohydrate which the body craves after so much walking and sweating!
Well the pictures tell more than my words so I hope this small tour of such a small part of the city gives you a little more contact with our lives here.
Thank you for taking the time to read and then to pray for us!
David
posted by David & Marian Sloss @ 6:41 AM
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