The beautiful village of Vasa Kellakiou is located at a beautiful landscape just 20 minutes northeast of Limassol. Upon arrival, visitors can immediately sense the warm hospitality of the residents. As soon as they begin strolling along the alleys of Vasa, visitors will encounter the stony flower gardens built of local stone which are full of beautiful seasonal flowers.
Walking further down the road, visitors will face the park and the football pitch, an area where some expansion works are being planned. In particular, these will include a new office for the president of the community, the local infirmary, an office for the association of expatriates and picturesque traditional lodges where visitors will be able to spend the night and be given the opportunity to admire the beauties and sights of Vasa.
Located near the Community Council premises is a green picnic area surrounded by eucalyptuses. The picnic area has a surface of four square kilometers and it neighbors the double football stadium. The picnic area was created with the help of the Community Council, the District Administration, as well as the Ministry of Interior. Since 2005, this particular area can accommodate approximately 200 visitors, while its facilities include wooden tables and benches, stony fountains, barbecue areas, swings, seesaws, as well as lavatories. What must also be noted is that the area has been configured in such a way that it can accommodate visitors with disabilities.
Moreover, a picturesque tavern will be built so that visitors will be able to taste the traditional cuisine of Vasa, while the amphitheater that is also going to be created will host events not only held by the community of Vasa but also by other communities. Additionally, paved alleys with benches along the way will be constructed so that visitors can enjoy the exquisite climate of Vasa while admiring its beautiful scenery.
In the case when a visitor wishes to calm their thirst while strolling around the village, they can do so by drinking water from one of the four beautiful fountains located along the picturesque alleys of the village.
The name Vasa derived from the fact that in the old years the village was in the centre among eight other villages in the surrounding area and it was considered a base village. Unfortunately, these other communities do not exist today, apart from some ruins found around the village and which prove the past existence of the other villages. During the Venetian occupation the entire island suffered from the raids of the barbarians and for this reason the women and children of the village used to hide in a large tunnel that was located below the surface of the village. In fact, the villagers had guards and messengers stationed at the location Deisis, at the edge of the village, so that they would shout the word “Vamvakosporos” to alert the women and children so that they would run and hide in the tunnel. Unfortunately, today the only part of the tunnel still standing is the entrance.
The residents of Vasa deal with agriculture and more specifically with the cultivation of pulses. The soil of the area is fertile and for this reason the pulses of the area are distinguished for their taste.
Several people of Vasa now reside abroad and the community of Vasa, aiming to help them return home, has already started allocating plots to its expatriates at very low prices.
FOLKWAYS
On the Sunday of Easter take place the traditional Easter Games, accompanied by traditional music. These games include bag and egg races and many others. Also, there is a game originating from Vasa according to which all contestants place their shoes on a pile and whoever finds their pair first and puts it on running back to their original position is the winner. Another game is that of egg throwing. All game winners are awarded by the Community and the association of expatriates.
Apart from the Easter Games, Vasa also holds the fair of Agios Dimitrios on October 26th, the fair of Panagia Vassiena on March 25th, as well as the annual dancing party of the village towards the end of August.
THE CHURCH
The church of Vasa Kellakiou is accompanied by a tradition according to which there used to be a large rock at the spot where the church altar was going to be built and as there were no means to break or move it Agios Dimitrios moved the rock to the river.
The moving of the rock by Agios Dimitrios also created a holy water spring which is also curative. More specifically, the mud produced by the holy water has curative properties, but only if you wash it away on the spot after placing it on you body, using river water. Agios Dimitrios was also our village’s protector Saint and saved us from the plague and many people have actually witnessed him fighting this disease in the villages.
The time when the church of Vasa Kellakiou was built is not certain. All we know is that there is an inscription reading 1848, but it is not certain whether this is the exact construction year. This inscription is found in the altar of the church and on the iconostasis.
There is also a chapel dedicated to Panagia Vosiena. The grandfather of the priest’s wife had a flock of goats. The flock was struck by a disease and the grandfather decided to build a church so that the disease would go away. Moreover, at this location there is a rock which is considered to be the milking tool of Panagia. The rock is built on the wall of the church and as tradition goes, Panagia used to make her halloumi cheese there. In fact, several people claim to have listened to chants coming from the chapel without any people being present there, as well as the bleat of a goats without any goats actually being there.
Ξενάγηση / Tour
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