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Kissonerga is a traditional Cypriot
village approximately five miles north
of Paphos and is well known for its
large number of banana plantations and
wineries. It is in an ideal location,
halfway between Paphos and Coral Bay.
Kissonerga has a charming and relaxed
atmosphere, where the locals are
friendly and welcoming. The village is a
quiet resort that is popular with
couples of all ages and families.
In the centre of the village is a
primary and middle school which caters
for children aged 5 to aged 11. In close
proximity to this school is a monument
of two young men from the village that
died in 1959 whilst fighting for EOKA
(National Organisation of Cypriot
Fighters). Miltiadous Kkelis and
Georgios Michalis were members of the
group that started a guerilla campaign
against British colonial rule aimed at a
union with Greece in 1955. The campaign
lasted until 1959, with more Greek
Cypriot civilian deaths than British
soldiers. The first British soldier to
be killed, Lance Corporal A.R.L. Milne,
was killed in Kissonerga when his
vehicle was hit by a bomb.
In the centre of the village is the
Church of Transfiguration (or
Metamorphosis). Close to this church is
the ruin of a small chapel that was
dedicated to Saints Zinovia and
Filonilli. Although the Church of
Transfiguration is a modern church, it
preserves the Holy icons from the 1775
chapel. It was these two Saints that
accompanied Saint Paul to spread the
word of Christianity throughout Paphos.
Saint Zinovia and Saint Filonilli died
and were buried in Kissonerga.
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