THE LEGEND OF VASILIOS DIGENIS AKRITAS CYPRUS The

THE LEGEND OF VASILIOS DIGENIS AKRITAS CYPRUS

The story takes us back in time, when Cyprus was a province of the Eastern Byzantine Empire. It was the era of the Border Guards. Akrites were brave men perfectly trained in all dangerous sports, especially in riding. The emperors of Byzantium, assessing the contribution of the Akrites, gave them free land for farming, horses and armor for wars and exemption from taxes. The most famous and brave akritas was VASILIOS DIGENIS AKRITAS. Digenis‘s achievements and reputation were spread in the whole world and became legends and folk songs passed through generations…

The life of Vasilios Digenis Akritas During the tenth century Mouso uri, the Saracen Lord, and Irene, a Greek princess, gave birth to a healthy baby boy. They called him Digenis because of his two genus, the Greek and the Arabic. Digenis was a brilliant and strong boy. His father and five uncles taught him martial arts at a very early age. At the age of 12 he saved his father’s life by fighting with thieves. Another day Digenis went with his father in the woods hunting. When a lion jumped in front of them, without losing any time, he took his sword and killed it.

The legend of Petra tou Romiou Another legend says that once Saracens were coming to the south coast of Cyprus. Digenis saw the ships coming to the coast. Then, with his remarkable strength, he took a huge rock and threw it on the ships, thereby destroying them. When the sea went calm, all that was left was the rock split in two. Since then, this rock was called "Petra tou Romiou" and remained there until today to remind us of the great Akritas, the beloved and unforgettable hero of Cyprus. Petra tou Romiou is located southwest of Paphos. Tradition also says that the goddess of beauty and love Aphrodite emerged from the sea foams at Petra tou Romiou.

The death of Digenis The years passed and no- one dared to attack the territories guarded by Digenis. When he was 33 years old he got seriously ill. No medicine could make him well. So he called all his friends and said: «Dear friends, all these years we lived in the world were unforgettable. However now Death called me to go with him. » Digenis then decided to face Death and fight with him. They were fighting for three days. The winner out of this courageous battle was Death. The heroic akritas died on a Tuesday and Tuesday was the day he was born.