In the ancient / late antique / medieval coastal city of Paphos (Paphos district), an episcopal see and an important port town in medieval times [Papacostas (1995) Gazetteer 12].
Description: The vaulted (pier?) basilica was erected on the site of a 5th-century three-aisled timber roofed basilica incorporating its apse. The late antique church was destroyed by fire (narthex) presumably during Arab raids of the mid-7th century and was replaced by a mosque (?), an ironsmith’s workshop, an oven and dwellings. The vaulted basilica was built following the departure from Paphos of the Arabs, whose presence on the site is suggested by the excavated (later 7th century?) Kufic inscriptions mostly painted on columns [BCH 92 (1968) 351, 93 (1969) 564-66; AR 1968-69, 53-54; Maier and Karageorghis (1984) 301; Megaw (1988) 140, 146-47; MKE 9, 168-70].
Dating: An 8th / 9th century may be proposed on the basis of the architecture (vaulted basilica) and the history of the city [Papacostas (1995) Gazetteer 12.d.I].
Later additions / alterations: According to Neophytos the Recluse, the church of Limeniotissa was destroyed by the earthquake of c.1160 [Papacostas (1999a) 6.B.II.23]. Later, a small chapel was built in the nave and survived until the Ottoman period [MKE 9, 168-70].
Modern repairs: The basilica site was identified in 1937, cleared in 1959 and excavated in the late 1960s [ARDA 1967, 18, 1968, 17-18; BCH 84 (1960) 292, 92 (1968) 351, 93 (1969) 564-66; AR 1968-69, 53-54; AD 24 (1969) 493-94; Papageorgiou (1969) 82-88; Megaw (1988) 140, n.12].
Plan / section: Maier and Karageorghis (1984) 293, Papageorgiou (1985b) 318 and Papageorgiou (1986) 501 [identical plans, showing excavated remains].