Agia Kyriaki Chrysopolitissa and St Paul's Pillar

Agia Kyriaki Chrysopolitissa is a church and early Christian site in Kato Paphos, on the southwest coast of Cyprus, about five minutes' walk inland from the harbour. The present church dates from the 13th century and stands within the ruins of a much larger early Christian basilica from the fourth century, one of the largest of its time on the island. The site is best known for St Paul's Pillar, a marble column where, according to tradition, the apostle Paul was tied and lashed with 39 strokes during his visit to Paphos around AD 45 before he converted the Roman governor Sergius Paulus.

Visitors can walk around the open ruins of the basilica, where low walls, column bases and fragments of floor mosaics show the plan of the original building. The pillar stands to one side, and a stone marks the traditional spot. The church itself, still in use, has a simple whitewashed interior with icons and a quiet, cool atmosphere; it is used by Orthodox and Anglican congregations, and services are held in different languages. A small garden with trees and low walls surrounds the site, and nearby are the remains of a chapel and ancient tombs.

The visit takes around 30 to 45 minutes. Mornings are quiet, while tour groups tend to arrive mid-day. The church is open daily, usually from 09:00 to 17:00, but hours and service times vary, so confirming locally is wise. Modest dress, with covered shoulders and knees, is appropriate in the church, and visitors should keep voices low during services. Photographs of the ruins and pillar are normally acceptable outdoors, but permission should be sought inside the church.

The site is free, though donations are welcome, and it combines naturally with the Agia Solomoni catacomb and the Paphos Archaeological Park nearby. Paths are short and mostly flat, passing among old stones and olive trees.