The village of Asgata

The village of Asgata is located at the most eastern side of the district of Limassol 26 km away from the city, and is built in the middle of a valley 190m high.

Many trees such as olive trees, almond trees, fruit trees, orange trees, vineyards (before) as well as pulses and vegetables are cultivated at the soils of the village. Lately a cultivation of vegetables has started at the areas of Pervolia, Gerampelos and Katsimata.

A few versions for the origin of the name of the village are listed below: Simos Menardos, in his book "Names of places of Cyprus" states that the latin, medieval ending -ata meaning ownership, like the names of Voutsinata, Typaldata etc in Greece. The plural ending -ata was thought to be feminine and this is why it is called Asgata as in a feminine way instead of Askata which would mean the fields of Askas.

Another version stated by Costas Pyrros in the Asgata magazine of the association of the Asgatians in America, states that the name consists of two words "As" and "Gatas". "As" means "until" and "Gatas" means "farmer".

The churches of Asgata

The Twelve Apostles church

The Twelve Apostles church was the first church of the village located in the cemetery also known as "the Old Church".

The building itself and its interior design are not of great interest architecturally wise. It is a small church with no bell or windows, which is thought to have been then built offhand to serve the religious purposes of the people of the valley of Asgata.

Petros and Pavlos Apostles Church

The next church of the village was the big church dedicated to the Apostles Petros and Pavlos. It is located in the middle of the village and is quite big showing that in a very short period of time (1830-1870) the community was developed.

Ayia Marina Church

The Ayia Marina chapel stands eastwards of the village, next to the Arkosykia brooklet. This small church, which was built by stages with different material and by different people for the fulfilment of a vow, gave a tasteless picture. At the beginning of the 1990s, with a donation of the Michalakis Vassiliades family, the old chapel was pulled down and a new one, also dedicated to Ayia Marina, was erected in its place, with stones of the area.

The school of Asgata

Pericles Michaelides, reports that there was a school at the village in 1887 with no further information. There was definitely a school at the village long before that. It is sure the until 1876 there was a school in Kato Geitonia, which was later on used as a carob warehouse. In 1876 together with the big church a school was built in the northeastern side of the churchyard. (This building was then used as olive mill by the church and continued to be used as a mill until 1953. In 1954-55 the building was renovated by donation of Costas and Pavlos Pyrros brothers until it was knocked down in 1980.

Later on at around 1930 at the south side of the village, where the schools are today, another building was built.

The school has today three lecture rooms, principal office, kitchen, storeroom, big yard and a garden. In the 1960s the school was functioning with three teachers then with two and for a period of time with only one teacher.

Costas Pyrros Square

The unforgettable Costas Pyrros in 1956 bought the area where the village square is today having in mind to knock down the houses and create what there is there today. In 1965 Costas Pyrros passed away, leaving his deed unfinished. He also left a will leaving at the village the above-mentioned area and an amount of money for the finishing of his deed.

Asgata can today be proud of having the most beautiful squares in Cyprus and a community library that is worth mentioning.