Foinikas Village The Templar Knights by Drone Fly

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Foinikas story begins in the summer of 1191. A victorious Richard I raises his flag on the then Byzantine fortress of Nicosia, before embarking on a campaign of conquest to re-capture the Holy Land for Christendom.

Richard the Lionheart considered Cyprus an unnecessary and unwanted distraction, after a storm had driven his fleet apart, wrecking several ships along the shore of Cyprus, bringing about the capture of his fiancée and sister, including the confiscation of English treasure, thus forcing him to conquer Cyprus and ultimately become its ruler.
Realising the island’s strategic importance in securing and defending Christian control of Jerusalem, the English king sold Cyprus to the Knights Templar, using his war chest to fund his crusade.

Initially, the Knights Templar – an order of devout Christians assigned to protect European travellers visiting sites in the Holy Land, while carrying out numerous military operations – settled in the fortification in Nicosia to control the plains of Mesaoria, thereafter establishing its administrative capital in the Paphos village of Foinikas.

Together with the neighbouring communities of Agia Irene, Anogyra, Platanissos and Kaloyiannakia, the village of Foinikas formed part of the Commandaria della Finicha, and was developed on a gentle slope nestled within the Xeropotamos valley on a site that was virtually impregnable.

Reminiscent of high medieval Europe, the houses were built entirely out of stone and reflected the political and socioeconomic status of the Knights Templar, while the imposing manor, which was located at the highest point of the complex, served as the Grand Commander’s home. The architecture was designed intelligently, making it unique from any other community in Cyprus at the time.

Although Foinikas was home to the legendary religious military order until 1313, it was also renowned for its sugar plantations and highly profitable silk trade during Frankish rule, making it one of the most affluent villages in the region.

The village was ruled by different suzerains, including Genoese and Venetian, and was eventually conquered by the Ottomans in 1571 who ruled the island until 1878. The history of the Knight Templars and their connection with Cyprus ended with Ottoman rule, destroying all Templar archives in their attempt to wipe out Christianity. Had those documents survived, they could have answered many questions relating to the history and mystery surrounding this formal institution.

Since 1831, Foinikas was mostly populated by Turkish Cypriots until the village was abandoned following the invasion of the island in 1974. Although few Greek Cypriots settled in the village afterwards, the construction of the Asprokremmos reservoir two years after forced the villagers to relocate.

Today, the deserted ‘administrative capital’ of Foinikas exudes an eerie, yet mysterious charm – an enduring location that is steeped in history. The shape of the fortification, including the outer walls and stone stairways are partially intact. Centuries-old windows and doors, crumbling ceilings slowly giving into dilapidation in the hot sun, and falling masonry provide a subtle hint of the stone structures, once occupied by the guardians of the Holy Grail.

Over the years, wild vegetation has reclaimed the buildings of Foinikas, engulfing its narrow and historic, cobblestone streets, making it impossible to unravel all the secrets of this enchanted wonder.

The Knights Templar were a medieval Christian military order founded in the 12th century. They were best known for their role in the Crusades, a series of holy wars fought between Christians and Muslims during the Middle Ages. The Templars were also known for their distinctive white mantles adorned with a red cross, which became a symbol of the order.

The order was initially established to protect Christian pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land, but it soon grew in wealth and power. Templars were involved in banking and finance, and they established a network of castles, estates and estates across Europe. They also played a significant role in the politics of the time, supporting the papacy and European monarchs.

The order reached the height of its power in the 12th and 13th centuries, but it faced a series of crises in the 14th century. The papacy and European monarchs began to see the Templars as a threat to their own power and wealth, and in 1307, King Philip IV of France ordered the arrest of all Templars in his kingdom. Many Templars were tortured into admitting heresy, and the order was disbanded by Pope Clement V in 1312.

Today, the legacy of the Knights Templar lives on in legends, fiction, and conspiracy theories. Some people believe that the order somehow survived its official dissolution and continues to exist in secret to this day.