Steven Mace

Here I am in front of the church of St Lazarus (Ayios Lazarus) in Larnaca. The (second) tomb of Lazarus, who Jesus famously raised from the dead, is here. I went down into the crypt, close to the tomb, and there was definitely an eerie atmosphere down there. Perhaps that was due to a lone woman clasping a piece of paper or a photograph to her face, and silently praying.

This is the castle at Paphos. It was originally built as a Byzantine fort to protect the harbour. It was then rebuilt by the Lusignans in the thirteenth century after being destroyed in the earthquake of 1222. In 1570 it was dismantled by the Venetians. After capturing the island, the Ottomans restored and strengthened it.It has served as a fortress, a prison and even a warehouse for salt during the British occupation of the island.

This is an image of St George slaying the dragon from the nunnery of St.George of Alamanos.

In Cyprus, I visited the neolithic village of Choirokoitia. It was in 9000 BC that settlers apparently arrived here, to an island that was previously uninhabited. It is the earliest evidence of civilisation on Cyprus.