Ayios Nikolaos — Saint Nicholas — is the patron saint of sailors, the navy, the coastguard and anything to do with the sea, because most of the miracles attributed to him were connected with it. Knowing that makes the visit better: the church at Protaras stands right beside the water, between the fishing port and the beach called ‘Luma’.
The views run in every direction — open sea on one side, beaches on the other, the fishing port beyond. This stretch is known as the Golden Coast of Paralimni.
The building
The church is very small, whitewashed with blue trim in the traditional Cypriot manner. Its outline is a cross — built that way to represent the holy cross. Inside, the walls carry Orthodox paintings and murals; outside, a cobblestone path runs around it and the bell tower is small but strikingly handsome.
Weddings and baptisms
The setting draws locals and visitors alike for weddings and baptisms, and for the photographs afterwards in the church and the ground around it. Several well-known people have married here, and it is steadily becoming a destination wedding church on the strength of the views and the position.
Any time of day works, but come in the evening as the sun goes down: sunset colour behind a crisp white and blue chapel. The church is always open and there is no entrance fee. If you are here on 6 December — the feast of Saint Nicholas — the Divine Liturgy is worth experiencing.
More sightseeing around Protaras
Fig Tree Bay
Five hundred metres of golden sand, a Blue Flag, and fig trees on the hillsides behind.
Cape Greco
A national forest park of sea caves, cliff jumps and trails between Ayia Napa and Protaras.
Church of Profitis Elias
A small church on a rock above Protaras, reached by a long flight of steps — and worth the climb for the view back over the bay.
Ayia Thekla Chapel
A whitewashed chapel on the rocks above Ayia Thekla beach, with the older cave church cut into the ground beside it.