Love Seeking Cypriots Wear Away Tomb in Paphos

Description:

For many centuries, people have visited the grave of St. Agapitikos in the village of Arodes in Paphos, Cyprus and taken dust from the tomb. For the lovelorn, it was a tradition to slip it into the drink of their objet d'amour.
 

However, in recent years, unhappy lovers have chipped so much dust and stone away that a quarter of the tomb has now disappeared. Many fear that if something is not done to protect the tomb of St. Agapitikos, there will be nothing left.

 
"A lot of people have said it works," said Matthaios Stefanou, the mayor of Arodes. "In the last few years I don't know what's come over people, but they are flocking to the tomb for the stuff.

 
"Just the other day locals saw some people visiting the tomb, and they were there for a very long time, in the end they walked off with a huge chunk of stone, maybe even half a kilo of it."

 
The antiquities department in Cyprus has been contacted to help with the situation. "The only thing we can do is examine the  damage and try to prevent any further damage," said Maria Hadjicosti, the acting director.

 
It is believed that St. Agapitikos - whose name means 'lover' - served in the German army of the Crusaders before coming to the area and settling as a hermit.
 

"You're very welcome to come and see the tomb, but please don't go taking any of it with you," Mr Stefanou said.

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