The church of Agios Mamas

The big basilica which is dedicated to Agios Mamas, was built with the contribution of all the inhabitants of the community and it is situated on the east side of the village.

It is quite big and its capacity is 500 people.

The church is painted with white color. In the big yard stands the tall and bell tower with two giant bells. It is actually on the east side and it abuts on the church.

The church of Agios Mamas

Inside the church, there are magnificent wall paintings with unique shapes. They are placed above the sanctuary. One of them depicts Panagia Platitera. Next to this one there is a wall painting of Adam and Eve. On the right side of the church there is a wall painting of Theodoros Stratilatis and Archangel Daniel.

The wooden iconostasis is beautiful and it has many portable icons. Above the icons there is another zone which is more narrow, and includes 12 smaller icons, the so called Festal Cycle or Dodekaorton. The icon which is dedicated to Agios Mamas, is placed on a special case, next to the south door of the church. It depicts the saint sitting on a lion and holding a lamb. It is a very old icon.

There are also two wooden psalters and a despotic throne. The gallery is very big, its capacity is 100 people. It is amphitheatrically built.

The community of Alaminos celebrates the feast day of the saint on 2nd September with a procession of his icon. Many people from the area but also from other cities and villages visit the church at this day.

The chapel of Agios Mamas 

The chapel of Agios Mamas

The chapel of Agios Mamas was built in the 15th century. It is built on the foothills of the mountain and until 1992 it celebrated mass daily as it used to be the central church of the village.

It is a small church and its capacity is 150 people. It is a basilica with a dome, it is stone made and the external walls are covered with stones extracted from the area. The bell tower is tall and it has only one bell. It is placed on the east side of the church outside the sanctuary.

The inside of the church is decorated with some wall paintings which are above the sanctuary. There is also a depiction of Pantokrator. The Department of Antiquities has undertaken the conservation of the church and the finding of other wall paintings in the church as some of them were covered with paint. There is no gallery because of the small size of the church.

The simple and wooden iconostasis is very old and it is framed with some old icons. The chapel is closed at this point because it is being restored but in older times it celebrated mass daily. Usually the funerals were made in this chapel because it is next to the cemetery.

The chapel in under the protection of the Department of Antiquities and it is enounced as Monument B. With the contribution of the Ecclesiastic Committee some works are made for its conservation.

The life of Agios Mamas

Agios Mamas was born in Canciri Paphlagonia in Asia Minor in 260 AD. His parents Theodotos and Roufina were very religious.

Footprint of Saint Mamas

The archon of Canciri Alexander asked from the parents of Agios Mamas to make idolatrous sacrifices but they refused. Thus, they were sent to the archon of Caesarea, Foustos, to punish them.

The archon of Caesarea sent them to prison. Theodotos died in prison and Roufina who was pregnant at that time, gave birth to Agios Mamas and then died too.

A rich woman who lived in Caesarea, Ammia, had a holy vision of an angel who asked her to bury the two bodies. Thus, she asked the permission of the archon who accepted. She buried the bodies and took the infant to raise him herself.

When the child grew up, he called Ammia “mama” (mother). He went to school and he became the best student of all the children in his class. His mother Ammia died when Agios Mamas was 15 years old and he inherited everything she had.

The archon of Caesarea Demokritos called Agios Mamas to apologize because not only he was a Christian but he also tried to proselytize other people. Agios Mamas refused to apologize and he was sent to the emperor Aurelian who decided to torture him. He was first hit with sticks and then the soldiers took his clothes off and burnt his body with candles. Agios Mamas stood still and prayed to God who helped him not to feel the pain. The emperor was disappointed and order his men to put a bullet of lead on his neck and throw him in the sea. An angel sent by God helped him to survive and lead him in Caesarea. Agios Mamas has built a church and lived there eating cheese that he made on his own from the wild animals of the area.

One day when Agios Mamas was in the center of the town, some idolaters accused him to the archon Alexander who order his men to arrest him. When they went to his church, the wild animals gathered around the area as they did every day, and the soldiers were scared and left. Agios Mamas appeared in front of the archon sitting on a lion. Alexander order his soldiers to torture him.

He was hanged and the soldiers flayed his skin with iron ridges. Agios Mamas did not feel any pain. Then he was sent to prison with 40 other Christians. One day the doors opened due to the prayers of Agios Mamas and all the Christians run out. The archon decided to put him in a firing kiln but again Agios Mamas came out alive three days later. Alexander put him in the cells where they kept the wild animals but still they did not hurt him and he came out alive.

Then the archon asked a soldier to kill him with a trident. The soldier stuck him with the trident and the umbles of the saint came out. Agios Mamas did not die right away. He took his umbles and walked for 2 miles until he went out of the city. He sat on a stone and thanked the Lord for his help and support. Then he rested in peace on 2nd September 260 AD. The Christians took his body and buried it in a stone made monument.

After many years the kings of the area were very jealous when they realized that the relics of the saint were thaumaturge. Thus, the decided to throw the coffin with the relics in the sea. But the Saint “guided” the coffin to the port of Morphou which is on the northwest side of Cyprus.

Agios Mamas appeared in a holy vision of a Christian and told him where his coffin was. The Christian followed by priests and many people went at the location, found the coffin and placed it in another place. They have also built a church with a big dome dedicated to Agios Mamas. At the feast day of Agios Mamas his tomb gushes myrrh which can heal people from many diseases.