I WAS OVERWHELMED WHEN I VISITED THE PANAGIA (CHURCH) OF OUR LADY OF ASINOU AT THE FOOTHILLS OF TROODOS MOUNTAINS IN CYPRUS.
Kee Hua Chee
Of course I felt like I was at home since I am of divine stock myself as my father is Zeus, King of Gods. Either that or my mother is Aphrodite the Goddess of Sex. But even I kneel before the true God of Jesus Christ and his mother who I venerate as much as I do Kuanyin, Goddess of Mercy.
Despite its fame as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, the church is amazingly small and so ordinary looking from outside I would have walked past it if I had not known about the treasures inside. It entered UNESCO World Heritage list in 1985 together with 9 other Byzantine churches.
The church can barely fit 20 people shoulder to shoulder and it must have started as a shrine for a local community or just a wealthy family who commissioned it.
It was built by a local magistrate who fell in love with it he became a monk and lived here to the end of his days. He was Nikolaos.
As you enter, there is a portrait of Virgin Mary which you can kiss in homage. A transparent plastic cover protects the precious painting from human lips. I debated whether to kiss but decided against it since I would merely be touching someone's saliva.
So I merely went down on my knees and asked Mother Mary to bless me, my parents, my true love, my adopted French son darling Dedione, Princess Becky Leogardo and family, Dato Nancy Yeoh and family and all those who love and adore me which number around 7 billion I believe.
A Cypriot who hardly spoke English sat at one side selling souvenirs and books. He left for 10 minutes for toilet break but no one dared to steal anything for fear of divine wrath.
The paintings cover the walls, alcoves, pillars, annexes and ceilings and almost every inch of empty space was fully painted in classical Byzantine style full of religious fervour, brilliant colours and stylised elegance.
Indeed the murals are supposed to be a mini Bible lesson with obvious scenes of Adam and Eve, Annunciation, Apostles, saints like St George slaying the dragon, heaven and hell and all manner of religious righteousness.
The plaque at entrance
Virgin Mary, Mother of God and Most Blessed Woman
Mother Mary being received in heaven by angels
2 saints---I love the hair of the one at left!
Curly-wurly!
Beautifully coiffed hair!
Mother Mary with the birth of Jesus Christ, Saviour of our World
Jesus Christ
Virgin Mary with baby Jesus
Jesus resurrecting Lazarus from the dead
Mary Magdalene and mourners at the tomb of Jesus
Jesus has been resurrected!
Suffering in purgatory
I wonder who is the person at right
\St George
Part of her face has been defaced
Adam and Eve and the evil snake
This magnificent portrait of Jesus Christ surrounded by 12 Apostles is on the ceiling of the nave
Jesus Christ, king of mankind
Jesus Christ in resplendent glory
Mother Mary
This portrait is also venerated by today's worshippers
Daniel and the Lion and Jonah and the whale
Lucifer the fallen angel being locked up
The painting of Virgin Mary and baby Jesus
Robert Ong and Tan Q Ling filming the interior of Church of Our Lady of Asinou in Cyprus
Looks like loaves of bread but these are sinners getting their just desserts!
Looks like the sinners are in boiling oil
A saint
All four corners are lavishly painted
Every inch has been painted with religious scenes
This is the second corner
This is the third
The fourth
St George slaying the dragon
This is the venerated painting of Mother Mary
What a glorious church!
Kee Hua Chee is a demi-god who still bows to the true god
Kee Hua Chee
Kee Hua Chee inside Church of Our Lady of Asinou
Mother Mary holding Jesus in swaddling clothes
The altar
The altar with Bible
Religious scenes including Crucifixion
These murals look 3-D as they are painted on the alcove and annexe above the door!
Jesus hovers in midair in this trompe l'oeil
The 3 Wise Men
The death of Mother Mary
Parts of some murals are damaged
This restaurant and lodgings is perfectly blended with its environment!
Church of Our Lady of Asinou from various sides
This way to Church of Our Lady of Asinou
Small, simple and simply stupendous inside!
Kerwei Tan Q Ling photographing the interior
Kerwei Laiping Q Ling at work
Natural light streaming in from the open holes
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