Karpashia

Karpashia is located 30km southwest of Kyrenia, on the north it is the village of Myrtou, west the village of Diorios and south the village of Kapouti. The village took its name from the Turkish word “Kurp-Asia” which means near Asia.

Karpashia is the smallest village in population amongst the Maronite villages. In 1778 there were 99 inhabitants whereas in 1973 they numbered 245. Today in Karpashia there are only eleven enclaved people, since the rest of the inhabitants became refugees. The people from Karpashia visit their village regularly to support their enclaved people who are mostly old people.

The church in the village is dedicated to the Holy Cross. Inside the church there are remnants of wall paintings, whereas the icons are dated from the 17th century. There are also two ancient wooden crosses of great value: the one, purely Byzantine, is dated from the 15th century while the other, Cypriot-Byzantine rustic technocracy, is dated from the 17th century. The two crosses constitute one of the most important belongings of the Maronite community, which celebrates the protector of the village on September 14, the day on which St. Helen found the Holy Cross (14th September 320 A.C.).

In the east-side of the village there is the cemetery where excavations took place and brought to light ancient relics.

The people of Karpashia work their land. With medium rain fall the people produce wheat and barley carobs and olive oil, while large areas of the land remain uncultivated since most of the land is covered with wild life vegetation. Some of the inhabitants are animal farmers whereas others used to work in the Civil Service mainly in Kyrenia and Nicosia.

In the village there was an elementary school which started operating again after the tragic events in 1974. In 1981 there were 10 pupils in a population of 50 people in the village. There was also a football club as well as a cooperative society which supported the inhabitants of the village.

Some of the toponyms of the village are the following: Myrtiotika, Varsalamina, Vounaros, Horafia tou Stefani, Koutelitico, Pigades, Siapia, Karvounia, Merras, Flakoura etc.