Seahorse Issue 6

The St Raphael Resort Magazine | ISSUE 6 | 2016
TASTE | DREAM | ENJOY
WHAT’S NEW?
New tastes, new ambiances, new
landscaped areas and new additions
to an all-time classic
TASTES AND TIPS
Enjoy our delicious flavours as well
as cooking tips from a 5-Star Chef!
ART AND FASHION
From decorative wall art
to new hair trends

Inside
12
18
5 Welcome to Seahorse
Welcome message from the
Managing Director
6 From us to our valued guests
Welcome message from the
General Manager
8 What’s new at St Raphael?
From Restaurants to Services and
everything in between
10 5 useful cooking tips
From our 5-Star Chef
12 The perfect
3-course meal
At Sailor’s Rest Restaurant
14 Cocktail Specialties
Can you keep a secret?
22 Sea Breeze Yoga
At St Raphael Gardens
24 Ancient Greek Massage ®
At Serenity Spa
26 Art is not what you see
But what you make others see…
by Marina Rafael
30 Fyti Village
A secret paradise in Paphos
34 Fashion News
And Hair Tattoos
38 Meet the St Raphael
team leaders
40 Be a Happy Bee
At our Kid’s Club
24
16 Tastes of Cyprus
In a wine glass
18 Crest Watersports
At St Raphael Resort
20 We are celebrating...
The 30 th Anniversary of the Marina
42 The Orthodox Church
survives
By Mrs Bernice Gregoriou
44 Moments with celebrities
At the St Raphael Resort
26
Copyright © 2016 St Raphael Resort
All materials within this magazine are protected by
copyright. No part of this magazine may be reproduced
without the publishers permission. Whilst the greatest
care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the
information in this publication at the time of going to
press, neither the Design Direction nor the St Raphael
Resort can accept responsibility for any errors or omissions.
The magazine title “Seahorse” is copyright of the
St Raphael Resort.
P.O. Box 51064, 3594 Limassol, Cyprus
E-mail: reservations@raphael.com.cy
Tel: (+357) 25 834 200
Fax: (+357) 25 636 394
Design Direction: D-Zine Visual Arts
Printed by: Laser Graphics Ltd
Cover photo by Elias Elia
www.raphael.com.cy
3

for the sea!
Looking for a great spot to berth your boat big or small?
St Raphael Marina is just the right place! We offer a safe and welcoming environment in which to leave your boat.
For our new price list, check our website.
BOOK YOUR MARINA BERTH BY GETTING IN TOUCH WITH US
St Raphael Marina, P.O. Box 51933, 3509 Limassol, Cyprus, Tel: +357 25 834255, Fax: +357 25 635208
E-mail: marina@raphael.com.cy, Website: www.raphael.com.cy/straphaelmarina

Welcome to
Mrs Farah Shammas
Managing Director
Dear Valued Guest,
It is with our greatest pleasure that we welcome you to our hotel, our home.
For those of you who do not know, the St Raphael Resort and Marina is a family owned and
operated project. For the many of you that have been before, you will know that you will
almost certainly see some of our family around the resort and it is our pleasure to meet as
many of you as possible. This also applies for all our management team and staff, many of
whom have been with us from the early days of the hotel and marina’s opening.
Our aim is for you to feel as we do - that this is your ‘home away from home’. Please do
also feel free to contact us with your feedback as we always love to hear from our guests
and friends. Your comments are of course also welcome on various sites such as TripAdvisor
and all social media platforms which we hope you will follow us on.
We sincerely hope that you will have the time to enjoy all our facilities and meet all of
our staff and team. Everyone in this hotel works very hard to maintain our award winning
standards and we will be happy to assist you in any way we can to ensure your stay with us
is most enjoyable.
We are very proud this year to be celebrating the 30th Year Anniversary of the St Raphael
Marina, the first private marina to have been opened in Cyprus back in 1986. It has been
a long and exciting journey for the family to watch this project grow and establish itself
amongst the landmarks of Limassol. We are now looking forward to exciting times in the
future and invite you to become part of the St Raphael family!
Yours faithfully,
Farah Shammas
Managing Director
5

From us
to our valued guests!
Mr Demetris Demetriou, MA
General Manager
Dear Guest,
The St Raphael Resort & Marina offers consistent and
steady value for frequent travellers and loyal guests,
and as such has possibly one of the highest repeater
rates of customers in Cyprus. There are many reasons
why our Hotel stands out above the rest for repeating
clientele, including our kind and courteous staff who
are always willing to please. This is a very important
asset for the Hotel - ‘the human touch’ - as our
team of staff are always enthusiastic, amenable and
prepared to assist all guests and ensure their stay with us
becomes a memorable holiday.
In our effort to improve the services and facilities we
offer at the Hotel, we have embarked upon a number of
changes during 2016, which we hope you will have the
opportunity to enjoy and experience whilst staying at
the St Raphael Resort.
One area we have placed an important emphasis
upon is our variety of food in the various outlets. We
have rejuvenated and re-introduced the à la carte
option in our Palladium Restaurant. For a reasonable
supplement, Half Board and All Inclusive guests can
enjoy, in a secluded area of the Palladium, an attentive
service with an individually prepared à la carte meal
from the comfort of their table.
Additionally we have recently welcomed a Lebanese
Master Chef to the team, who has trained our Lebanese
Restaurant Chef in the latest trends and delicacies
associated with this rich and tasteful cuisine. Make a
point to visit the Phoenician Restaurant to enjoy the
exciting new flavours.
During the summer period, our Splash Pool Restaurant,
will be open weekly on various nights, featuring two
very special themed evenings. These include an Italian
extravaganza, with traditional antipasti, up-to-theminute
prepared and served pasta and a selection of
delicious Italian desserts to complement the evening.
Furthermore, we are also adding a Surf & Turf BBQ
night in Splash Restaurant. Enjoy a selection of
refreshing salads and starters, succulent meat and
fish dishes, all freshly cooked in front of you, plus a
selection of mouth-watering desserts and fruit. Finally,
we have revamped our Sailor’s Rest à la carte menu,
with new additions which we highly recommend.
The improvments do not end there; we have improved
our sun bed landscaped area ensuring that for many
years to come, with the additional trees we have
planted, our clients will enjoy the shaded areas.
In conclusion, being conscious of the fact that a
number of our clients are geared towards fitness
and wellbeing, we have prepared with our new Personal
Trainer, made-to-measure group and individual training
programmes. Our Trainer will assess you, discuss your
needs and produce the most suitable programme to
meet your requirements in order for you to achieve
your goals.
We look forward to welcoming you during your stay here
with us and above all wish to take care of you, pamper
you and for you to complete your holiday energised,
relaxed and reminiscing about a most enjoyable stay.
With our warmest and most welcoming regards,
St Raphael Resort
Demetris Demetriou, MA
General Manager
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What’s new
at St Raphael
Every year here at St Raphael Resort we strive to offer
the best we can to our valued guests. This year is no
different. We listen to your wishes and do our utmost
to fulfil them.
Starting off our tour of ‘What’s New’, we want
to take you to our Phoenician Restaurant. Even
as you pass by the Restaurant, you’ll be sure to
smell the delightful aromas of the Middle East.
We recently welcomed a Lebanese Master Chef
to train our team with the secrets of Lebanese
cuisine and to create a wonderful menu for our
guests. From grilled delicacies to fresh salads…
you can find it all here.
Continuing with our menu changes, we are
introducing special themed menu nights at our
seasonal Splash Pool Restaurant. Enjoy Italian
and Surf & Turf BBQ evenings in a casual familyfriendly
atmosphere.
We have also extended our services at Seashells
Beach Tavern. Situated just by the water’s
edge, the new Seashells ‘Grab ‘n’ Go’ concept
offers seasonal outdoor summer lunches, snacks
and drinks to simply choose and enjoy on the
comfort of your sun loungers.
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Not to be outdone by the changes to the
food menus around the Hotel, our Health &
Relaxation Corner has also received an upgrade.
We now offer an Ancient Greek Massage®
treatment at our award-winning Serenity Spa.
This unique, patented Holistic Therapy can only
be found in a few spas around the world and has
been licensed exclusively to us in Limassol! But
first before you try one of the new treatments,
why not book a session with our new Personal
Trainer?
Of course we could not forget our little friends.
As the adults get their spa treatments, our
Happy Bees can get their own ‘First Haircut
Certificate’ at the Resort… the perfect way to
begin their summer holidays with a new look!
If you enjoy a walk during the day or evening,
then don’t forget to stroll past our new
landscaped areas in the gardens of the Hotel.
New trees have been planted to further increase
natural shaded areas of the lawn. Our
experienced gardeners ensure everything is kept
fresh and beautiful all year-round, with various
seasonal updates.
Going back to the grown ups, we have added a
quiet breakfast ‘Adults Corner’ at our Octagon
Terrace. You can now enjoy a peaceful and
serene morning breakfast service overlooking
the glistening Mediterranean Sea.
As we say – ‘Taste, dream, enjoy and
make your stay a memorable one!’
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Macarons twist with smoked salmon & boursin
By Elias Elia
Executive Chef
St Raphael Resort
5 Cooking Tips
from a 5-Star Chef
Even the most experienced of Chefs can learn something
from others. Our Executive Chef recently said:
“If you’re cooking for someone important, whether
it’s your boss or a date, never try a new recipe and a
new ingredient at the same time.”
5 interesting and useful tips from our 5-Star Chef:
Tip 1
Cook pasta for 1-minute less than
the package instructions then cook
for the remaining time in the pan
with sauce.
Tip 2
Chocolate Brownies, cabernet poached pear & vanilla ice cream
For rich, creamy dressings made
healthier, substitute half the mayonnaise
with Greek-style yoghurt.
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Chevre with pesto jumbo prawns
Tip 3
Recipes are only a guideline, not
always needing to be adhered
too. Feel comfortable replacing
ingredients with similar ingredients
that you like. For example,
if you like oregano but not thyme,
only use oregano.
Tip 4
Season all of your food from start
to finish. Seasoning in stages brings
the most out of your ingredients
and gives you the most flavour.
Tip 5
Always measure what you’re
baking. No shortcuts in pastry: It’s
a science.
Minted Quinoa & Avocado Timbale with grilled prawns
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Florentine Lobster
Dishes by Andreas Demetriades
Sailor’s Rest Lounge Bar and
Restaurant Head Chef
Contributed by a happy guest
The Perfect
Three Course Meal
Imagine the setting… you are situated in a little gem
of a restaurant, literally on the turquoise waters of
the Mediterranean Sea, in the midst of a glorious
sunset… just you and your significant other. What
would make this moment even better? How about a
perfect three course meal as suggested by a top
chef!
For starters we chose the ‘Goat’s Cheese Salad’.
Some people think salads are boring, but not this one!
The freshest salad greens crispy and vibrant to cool
you down on a warm summer’s evening. Combine this
with crunchy cashew nuts and sweet pomegranates
topped with a kataifi nest and tasty toasted
Crostini bread. The deal breaker however is the
treasure hidden beneath - Goat’s Cheese. With a
unique, tart and earthy flavour setting it apart from
any other kind of soft cheese, this gives the whole
salad a great boost of flavour and texture.
For the main course, the ‘Florentine Lobster’.
You can never go wrong with a lobster dish,
especially when the freshest ingredients are used
by a talented chef. We start with a bed of spaghetti
pasta, dressed with a tasty lobster cream sauce
and fresh spinach for that extra mineral taste.
We then add prawns, to start preparing the taste
buds for what is to come… the star of the dish.
Lobster is a delicacy wherever you go; lobster meat
is fishy-sweet and full of taste. It’s cooked to
perfection, it’s soft and melts like butter. Everything
in this dish comes together to create a symphony
of tastes that can satisfy even the most difficult of
critics.
Have you saved room for dessert? If you haven’t
you should have! Don’t miss out on a ‘Homemade
Hazelnut Praline Cake’ to die for! Made from
hazelnut cream and set on flourless biscuit with a
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Goat Cheese Salad
creamy heart, it’s remarkably light but full of taste.
Hazelnut gives you enough chocolate taste to keep
you wanting a bit more, the flourless biscuit base
balances it out and the creamy centre of the cake
completes the journey of flavours. From the first
spoonful to the last it’s a dessert that you won’t want
to share!
A complete meal is not perfect without a great wine
to accompany it. A Chardonnay from France or one
from a Cypriot winery is ideal. Chardonnay offers a
voluptuous, wider-bodied and velvety taste coupled
with rich citrus aromas… this is like an exclamation
mark to the perfect meal.
Hazelnut Praline Cake
Sailor’s Rest
Watch breathtaking sunsets over the Mediterranean
Sea at Sailor’s Rest Lounge Bar & Restaurant, open
daily from 10.00am till late.
Situated in a unique location in the heart of the
St Raphael Marina, the award-winning Restaurant
serves an array of à la carte gourmet dining options.
Enjoy a choice of fresh fish, meats, salads and pasta,
not to mention mouth-watering desserts and ice
creams that are available throughout the day.
For reservations call - Tel: +357 25 834 242
Florentine Lobster
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Cocktail Specialties
Can you keep a secret?
Whether enjoying a light drink or snack inside
with friends, or seated on the covered panoramic
wooden-decked terrace overlooking breathtaking
views of Limassol Bay and the St Raphael Marina;
the Captain’s Bar is the perfect setting for intimate
gatherings. You have probably seen the Cocktail
Menu, but did you know that there are some secrets
that only a select few know?
The trick is knowing who to ask! For example if you
want to know how a particular cocktail tastes, there
are only a few people that can help… and they work
behind the bar!
The following three cocktails are equally delicious
(from left to right in the above photo) and our staff
will be happy to mix one up for you upon request. The
first one is our ‘Ouzo Sky Cooler’. A mixture of Ouzo,
Lemonade and Blue Curaçao gives you the colour of
the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean Sea and
tastes luscious.
The second one, our ‘Strawberry Zivania Fizz’ is
a fruity delight that you can only be found at the
Captain’s Bar. It consists of a mixture of Zivania and
Strawberry Liqueur for a beautiful, pink-sweet
taste.
Our third cocktail is a ‘Commandaria Twist Delight’
inspired by the oldest wine in the world and a
signature drink at Captain’s Bar. It is a combination
of Commandaria and Amaretto resulting in a sweet
and sour taste.
Enjoy but be prepared… these cocktails are not for
the faint hearted!
Our popular Captain’s Bar has its own
wooden-decked terrace overlooking the Hotel’s
beautifully landscaped gardens, where guests
can enjoy our tempting cocktail favourites
and absorb the breathtaking views of the
Mediterranean Sea.
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CITIZENSHIP • LOCATION • ГРАЖДАНСТВО • ЛИКВИДНАЯ НЕДВИЖИМОСТЬ
ALEXANDER
SUITES
BOUTIQUE
BUILDING
LOCATION: 200 meters from the beach
Ideal for:
• private banks
• representative offices,
• branded multi-level shops
With underground parking and storage
0316
APL DEVELOPMENTS OFFICE
59 Amathoundos Ave., No3, Next to the Four Seasons Hotel, 4532 Limassol, Cyprus
Tel.: +357 25 431 018, Mob.: +357 99 415 904, E-mail: alexproperties@cytanet.com.cy
www.apl-cyprus.com, www.apl-home.ru/alexandersuites

Tastes of Cyprus,
in a wine glass
By Mr Andreas Argyrou
Contributor
Wine has existed in Cyprus since
ancient times and had a major
impact on the lives of Cypriots and
the advancement of the island.
Recent excavations in Erimi Village by Italian
archaeologist Dr. Maria Belgiorno, showed the
presence of wine in Cyprus since 3500 BC.
Wine has existed on the island since ancient times
and had a major impact on the lives of Cypriots and
the advancement of the island. Poets and historians
such as Stasinos, Plinios, Senecas and others made
Cyprus famous for its excellent dessert wine.
During the 11th Century, when the Crusaders began
their descent to the Holy Land, Cypriot wine started
to gain its reputation. Remarkable for Cyprus wine, a
reference made from the poet Henri d’Angeli in 1213,
from his famous work ‘The Battle of Wines’, referred
to a global wine tasting competition organized by the
King of Italy - Philip August. In it, Commandaria, a
sweet wine of Cyprus was crowned as the apostle of
wines.
The wines of Cyprus became known throughout the
Mediterranean and Europe with the Commandaria
name symbolizing its geographical origin. Since then,
a tourist to Cyprus in the 20th Century might not
remember our wine as being a world-class winner,
but the Cypriot wine industry began showing signs of
improvement around 1990. Along with government
initiatives and young oenologists returning to the
island, the emergence of new ideas, experiments
in small wineries and new planted vines brought
together some exciting changes.
Nowadays the wine industry is advancing rapidly.
Wine competitions take place every year. The top
wine remains Commandaria that is produced from
local vines, white and red, Xynisteri and
‘Mavro’(black).
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The most important local varieties are considered to
be the white Xynisteri and red Maratheftiko.
Xynisteri is the best white variety of grapes and is
cultivated all over Cyprus, but the best results are
achieved at high altitude. Xynisteri produces a light
wine, with moderate acidity, rich aromas of citrus,
peach and white flowers. Taste is light, pleasant and
fruity. It is a good combination for salads, pasta with
white sauce, fried fish, grilled white meat or can be
enjoyed on its own.
Maratheftiko is theoretically the best local red
variety. Produced in small areas mainly in the
Panagia region, Pitsilia and Vasa, resulting in wines
rich in body with cherry, rose, raspberry and herb
flavours. Rich in taste, with soft tannins, balanced
acidity and good aftertaste. It is a good combination
for game, red meats, stews and hard cheeses.
Check our Hotel wine list or ask our
sommeliers to help you discover more wine
and taste combinations from all over the world.

Crest Watersports
at St Raphael Resort
Water Skiing, Wakeboarding,
Windsurfing, Kiteboarding,
Wakesurfing, Boats, Kayaks,
Pedal Boats, SUP, Flyboarding,
Accommodation
Welcome to Crest Watersports Centre, located on the
sunny island of Cyprus in the Mediterranean Sea. We
have been teaching water sports for over 25 years
and offer a huge range of water activities for all to
enjoy… our motto is ‘Everyone can do it!’
The warm climate and clear blue waters give us the
opportunity to live a life full of fun and water sport
activities. All year-round these include wakeboarding,
kitesurfing, windsurfing, ‘bounce and ride’, jet
skiing, boats, wake and ski, surfing, SUP, flyboarding
and sailing.
We have experienced professional instructors who
speak multiple languages including Greek, English
and Russian. They can teach you to windsurf, kitesurf,
wakeboard, sail and more. We use the best equipment
on the market and regularly renew it to maximise
your chances of progression.
You can also choose to have an exciting trip on one of
our self-drive boats or jet skis, ride on an inflatable
or enjoy your time by relaxing on a pedal boat or sea
kayak.
Kiteboarding
Upon request we also offer unforgettable cruises on
sailing or power yachts and fishing trips. Corporate
and group activities are also available.
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Waterskiing
Flyboard
Crest Fishing Charters
Deep Sea Fishing
Blast off for a day of action and excitement and share
the unique experience of sea and deep sea fishing in
Cyprus with Crest Charters. Allow the Captain and his
Crew to be your ambassadors to our fabulous island,
abundant sea and pristine beaches.
Experience the ultimate fishing adventure of
deep sea fishing in Cyprus. The Crew’s familiarity
with the Cyprus coastal currents, underwater sea
bed structures and behaviour of the resident and
migratory fish, results in consistently excellent fishing
catches in Cyprus. Whether you are a fisherman
or a novice, the Crew has the expertise and more
importantly, the positive attitude to ensure your fishing
experience in Cyprus will remain unforgettable.
Sailing
But even if you aren’t the fisherman type you can
relax in comfort and style, as you sunbathe on the
deck in privacy. The friendly Crew will serve you the
most delicious, home cooked seafood dishes, freshly
caught from the very same Mediterranean waters you
are sailing over. We invite you and your guests aboard
for an unforgettable adventure of Cyprus fishing.
Fishing Charters
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We are Celebrating
our Marina’s
This year the St Raphael Marina is proudly celebrating
its 30th Anniversary! The Marina, founded by
Mr Shukri Hanna Shammas (picture below from the
“100 years celebration of the American University of
Beirut” at the Beirut promenade), was built at a
time that nautical tourism in Cyprus was at its starting
point. Over the years, St Raphael Marina has become
a landmark in the eastern Mediterranean region.
Strictly operating under ISO9001 and 1801 ensures
that the Marina consistently offers an array of professional
services to guests and visitors.
St Raphael Marina is an official port of entry to
Cyprus. With a total of 237 berths accommodating
boats up to 30m in overall length, with up to 4m
draught.
Located at the eastern edge of Limassol on the south
coast of the island of Cyprus, St Raphael Marina has
long been a recognised landmark in the town’s recent
history. We are only 30 minutes drive from Larnaca
International Airport and approximately 45 minutes
from Paphos International Airport.
Considered as the most prestigious area of Limassol,
the St Raphael Marina is within walking distance
to all necessary amenities; including a pharmacy,
mini-markets, a larger supermarket, first class
restaurants, bars, souvenir shops, two ‘Blue Flag’
awarded beaches and a convenient bus route connection
into the town centre and surrounding towns.
Also within a couple of minutes drive, one can
visit a choice of beautiful traditional villages and
attractions such as the Santa Marina Country Club
Retreat, the Ancient Ruins of Amathus and much
more.
Our location also means that the capital of Nicosia
is a quick motorway drive away (approximately
50 minutes) with access to most embassies, all
government offices, museums, shopping malls and
more.
St Raphael Marina offers technical services as well
as being the base of the well-established St Raphael
Yacht Club, which is extremely active in organising
yacht races, regattas and social events.
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Sea Breeze Yoga
at St Raphael Gardens
Mrs Danielle Bailey
Yoga Instractor
yogalimassol@gmail.com
Come, re-energise and join the yoga group that
practises every Sunday at 10.00am in the beautiful
gardens of St Raphael Resort.
Let’s perform yoga together and discover a new you
as you inhale the sea breeze whilst exploring the
postures and breath work of yoga.
The vision of yoga flow with Danielle Bailey (YA,
BSY), is to revitalise and restore the body and mind,
as each of the postures flow from one to the other,
transmuting and releasing tensions and blockages,
eliminating toxins and calming the mind.
Three benefits of practicing yoga outside:
increase our ability to absorb oxygen. Negative ions
also balance levels of serotonin; a body chemical
linked with mood and stress, which is why after
a beach holiday you feel more alert, relaxed and
energised.
3. During each yoga pose connect with the earth
and the natural elements of your surroundings
Outdoor classes add a different dimension to one’s
practice and pare down yoga to its original link
with nature. Yoga means ‘union’, and when it’s
practiced outdoors it seems like the union with
nature, humanity and the universe is truly felt.
1. Learn how to utilise organic energy from the sun
Before the morning yoga practise begins sit
cross-legged, or stand with bare feet on the ground, so
that you receive the maximum amount of ‘earthing’.
Having most of your body exposed to the sun will also
help the abundant absorption of Vitamin D. Keep your
spine straight at all times as this facilitates the flow
of energy down the spine.
2. Sea air contains healthy ions which help to clean
the system
Sea air is charged with healthy negative ions that
22

Ancient
Greek Massage® at
Ancient Greek Massage® is a
unique, patented Holistic Therapy
which closely follows the protocols
used by Hippocrates, the famous
father of modern medicine!
It is widely accepted that Ancient Greece is, among
others, the birthplace of medicine! The famous
American Princeton University has transplanted
branches of the Hippocrates tree from the island
of Kos to its campus in New Jersey, so that medical
school graduates will take the Hippocratic Oath
under its shadow.
How many people know that Ancient Greece is also
the birth place of massage?
Very few if any… why is that?
Why do Greek Spas offer tourists a variety of
treatments like Thai and Tibetan Massages? Most
visitors who travel to Greece and places with
Greek culture want to experience its vast, glorious
traditions and civilization - wanting to experience
something of Greek origin.
Could it be because no such art existed in Ancient
Greece? The following fragment from the work of
Hippocrates disputes this question:
“The doctor should know many things and, among
others, the art of rubbing (massage)… with the
rubbing a lose joint becomes tighter, a rigid one
becomes lose, but we will determine the rules of
rubbing in another thesis…
...Rubbing can improve the overall muscle condition,
they can grow muscles or thin them out, a hard
rubbing can improve tone, a soft one can relax, a
frequent one can burn fat, a moderate one can
improve muscle tone and size…”
24

No matter how familiar we are with the
achievements of our ancestors, it’s still rather
difficult for us to accept that they were pioneers in
the art of massage as well.
What does that mean? The answer is that they had
achieved maximum psychosomatic recuperation,
injury rehabilitation and fat burning techniques as
well! In other words, goals that we still find hard to
achieve now, even with the help of modern science!
It is true, then! The birthplace of medicine is also the
birthplace of massage!
The Ancient Greek Massage® treatment is strong
but not painful; it is a unique experience not to be
missed and a trip to the glorious past of Ancient
Greece. The treatment begins with a dry massage
for muscle stimulation; a technique originally known
only to the healers of the Ascipiia mystical temples.
A horsehair brush with powder is then used - one
of the ancient techniques of medical practitioners
known as ‘Latroliptes’, who kept the muscles of
the Olympic Games athletes strong during intense
training!
Cupping, bowl movement techniques and ‘sore
feet cure’, are only a few of the Hippocratic
techniques for longevity and mental balance that
are also applied for ultimate relaxation! ‘Stelegida’,
the only surviving tool of ancient times and uniquely
used in this treatment globally, is also used and is very
effective for cleansing toxins from the body and
activating the lymphatic system. Last, but not least,
the ‘rubbings of sorrow’ was Hippocrates secret
method to chase away sorrow and negative thinking
from people’s faces!
This incredible and unique massage was developed
over years of research and careful studies to
perfect the original and effective techniques of
ancient Greek Healers, into a modern treatment that
is not to be missed.
Serenity Spa
Spoil yourself and your loved ones with a 5-Star Spa
Treatment at our recently renovated and award-winning
Serenity Spa!
Serenity Spa features 8 treatment rooms and a team of
international professional Spa Therapists… we spare
no expense at creating the ultimate relaxation environment.
Enjoy our new Ancient Greek Massage Therapy®
60-minute Treatment: €120
90-minute Treatment: €160
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Article by Marina Rafael
Artist
“Art is not what you see,
but what you make
others see...”
Edgar Degas
I would like to thank God for the valuable artistic gift
he bestowed upon me, some of which I also inherited
from my talented mother. I began life as a self-taught
artist who loved drawing, painting, sculpting and
exploring every form of art. I graduated from London
with a Master of Art & Craft in Design. My creative
passion led me to attend a glass blowing course in
Sunderland at the Glass House Centre and a course
of painting traditional cathedral stained glass at
Roehampton University in Surrey. I also undertook an
art course at Central Saint Martin’s College of Arts,
London.
I have successfully presented my work in Greece,
Cyprus and London; with 6 personal exhibitions
and a number of group exhibitions, gaining many
positive reviews for my ‘live art’ that depicts
interesting themes and uses unique techniques.
26

My passion for art never ends as I explore even more
subjects and materials. My dream is to capture the
attention of the public and be able to enter their
homes through my art, making people happy and
transporting them into another world. I believe the
main purpose of an artist is to interact with their
work, communicate with the audience and pass on
feelings and thoughts.
My love of children prompted my exploration of
creating wall murals, which stemmed from my
admiration when I visited Italy at a young age. With
this style of art I began a number of commissions in
homes where I decorated walls - treating the wall
like an extra large canvas. Over the past 12 years
I have decorated numerous rooms for youngsters and
have received high praise from the families! I have
also painted for the Theotokos Institution in Limassol,
Dr. Argyris Argyriou Pediatric Clinic, Dr. Tassos
Anastasiou Clinic, Polyclinic Ygias Pediatric and
maternity ward, Le Meridien Hotel in Limassol,
St Raphael Hotel in Limassol, and numerous
kindergartens both in Limassol and Nicosia.
27

I will never stop investigating different materials
and techniques… because like technology, art is a
never-ending journey of creation and experimentation.
A few of my favourite materials include
watercolours, oil and chalk pastels, acrylics and
industrial mediums - such as glass or stone.
As Jackson Pollock said “I express feelings rather than
illustrate them.”
You can visit Marina’s website:
www.msrafael.com
Find her on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/MarinaRafael
or get in touch with her on:
Mob: 96 276020
28

Fyti Village
A secret paradise in Paphos
A spiritual and educational centre
for studying and one of the most
important weaving centres in Cyprus
Fyti (Φοιτή) Village is a little paradise in the Paphos
District. Interestingly enough, the Village along with
two other Villages in the area, have been ranked as
Grade ‘A’ Tourism Villages.
Fyti enjoys a pleasant climate all year-round.
The scenery is authentically picturesque, with
houses built of local stone that have retained their
traditional character. The local inhabitants of the
village number approximately only 97, but many
local and foreign tourists visit Fyti throughout the
year, adding a buzz to this beautiful area.
During the early 20th Century, the Village became
a spiritual and educational centre for studying, and
children from neighbouring areas would travel to Fyti
for their education. It is believed that the
Village acquired its name because of its educational
character, since the Greek word ‘foito’, written as
‘φοιτώ’, means ‘to study’.
30

Visitors can learn more
about the heritage of Fyti
by simply walking through
the village streets which
have many traditional
stone houses
31

Fyti is the main centre of the weaving craft in the
district of Paphos and is one of the most important
weaving centres in Cyprus. ‘Phythkiotika’ are the
famous textiles manufactured in the Village, which
are best-known for their flamboyant colours and variety
of patterns employed in the designs.
Visitors can learn more about the heritage of Fyti
Village, by visiting the Museum of Weaving & Folkloric
Art or by simply walking through the streets which
have many traditional stone houses, stone fountains
and two authentic Cypriot taverns.
Article by Heart Cyprus
www.HeartCyprus.com,
www.facebook.com/HeartCyprus
32

Fashion News
and Hair Tattoos!
By Marina Avraam
Journalist
www.dolce.com.cy
This summer
dare to be different
with your hair!
‘Hair Tattoos’ is the newest trend to be adopted
by women who have either short or long hair! Hair
length has no importance when there is inspiration
and imagination!
Both ‘Pinterest’ and ‘Instagram’ are full of photos
of this new trend and it is gaining much attention.
Summer along with colour requires madness!
Your hairdresser needs to have imagination to be able
to create the design you want. To begin with, it may
be the sun, a heart or whatever you want. Just let
your imagination fly!
Swimsuits for Summer 2016
Negative thoughts fall away after your mind is filled
with summer colours, images of islands, holidays and
relaxation.
34

This year’s swimwear immediately puts us in a
sunny mood! Separate colours with special details
characterise swimwear range for this season… the
only thing we have to do is too succumb to the call of
the fun times ahead of us! The St Raphael resort shop
offers a range of swimwear from various brands.
Rihanna continues her dynamic run
with another cooperation
Rihanna is a star and everything she touches seems
to turn to gold! After important collaborations in the
world of fashion and beauty she continues to venture
towards new territories! The singer has collaborated
with the famous brand ‘Stance Sock’ and invites us
to be different by wearing socks above the knee
with our favourite sandals. A look that is reminiscent
of pin-up girls, but in a different way! This new
collaboration was published in Vogue Online.
Christian Louboutin favours painting everything red!
Designers love to work with the colour red - the colour
of fire… this is no secret! Shoes with the famous red
soles by Christian Louboutin have been worn by
thousands of women who love to adopt the latest
trends. For summer, to keep in-line with this popular
trend, we propose a bright red nail polish! Besides style,
this also adds a touch of glamour!
35

Amathus Avenue, P.O. Box 51064, 3594, Limassol - Cyprus
Tel.: +357 25834332, Fax: +357 25636394
spa@raphael.com.cy | www.raphael.com.cy
Find us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Read our Reviews on Trip Advisor

Meet the St Raphael
team leaders
Meet the St Raphael Resort Department Managers,
from left to right:
Evi Kyriakou, HR Manager
Responsible for staff training and all other staff
related issues
Farah Shammas, Managing Director
A family member of the owners of St Raphael and
responsible for managing the Hotel and Marina
Anthie Constantinou, Executive Housekeeper
Responsible for the upkeep, cleanliness and high
standards of Hotel rooms and common areas
Prodromos Chamboulides,
Sales & Marketing Manager
Promoting the Resort in various countries and
cooperating with tour operators from all over
the world
Thrasos Mikelides, Food & Beverage Manager
Responsible for food and beverage items in all of
the Resort’s outlets for both in-house and events
Demetris Demetriou, General Manager
Responsible for the smooth operation of the Resort
Helen Chrisofides, Front Office Manager
Responsible for the Hotel Reception, Reservations
and welcoming guests to the Resort
Elias Elia, Executive Chef
Responsible for the food quality for all Resort
Restaurants and events
George Mappourides, Chief Engineer
Responsible for the overall general maintenance
and excellent working order of the Resort
David Demetriades, Purchasing Manager
Responsible for all food, beverages and utensil
purchases at the Resort
38

Be a
Happy Bee!!
Holidays at St Raphael Resort are not just for adults,
there is plenty of fun and games for the children too!
Children can come to our ‘Happy Bee Kids Club’ and
make new friends from all over the world, go on
exciting pirate adventures or learn how to make the
latest trends in arts and crafts items.
If your children have got lots of energy, we can help
with that too! Mini Olympics, football and fun team
games will ensure the kids are always occupied and
definitely never bored.
If that sounds too energetic and your child just wants
to chill out, we also have a cartoon time where
youngsters can sit and relax with new found friends.
Even as the sun goes down, we still keep going! Come
and join us for our fabulous Kids Disco under the stars.
Children can strut their funky moves and maybe even
collect a certificate from one of the many daytime
competitions we have. Look out for Penny also! She’s
our resident penguin who loves to dance with all the
kids, so you’ll usually find her at the Kids Disco!
40

By Mrs Bernice Gregoriou
Contributor
The Orthodox
Church Survives
42
Through the centuries the island of Cyprus has been
occupied by many invaders, but the autocephalous
Orthodox Church has retained its independence in
varying degrees.
Throughout the long rule of the Ottoman Empire the
Orthodox Church survived. In 1878, the British took
control of Cyprus; the Church gained more freedom
and places of worship were once again permitted to
use bells. With the division of the island in 1974 many
churches, chapels and monasteries in the northern
section were abandoned and have subsequently been
damaged.
All over the Republic of Cyprus there are many
monasteries and convents, which are still lived in
today by monks and nuns. Many of them are to be
found in the peaceful mountain areas where the views
are breathtaking; in more ancient times these were
considered safe, due to their inaccessibility, from
marauders from foreign lands arriving by sea. Before
the immense improvement in road communications
it was not unusual for pilgrims to stay overnight at
these monasteries. Even now, many of the larger
monasteries have the facilities to provide overnight
accommodation to pilgrims.
Kykkos, the largest and most famous monastery on
the island, was founded in 1080 and stands some 1200
metres above sea level on the north-west side of the
Troodos Mountains. It is the home of the golden icon
of the Virgin Mary, said to have been painted by St.
Luke and believed to possess miraculous powers. The
icon is constantly hidden by a protective cover to
prevent people looking at it for legend has it that
whoever looks upon the icon will be blinded
In the present day, the Byzantine icons hold a very
religious significance and indeed, icon painting still
continues in a number of monasteries. As numerous
miracles have been attributed to certain icons the
faithful will travel long distances to be able to light
a candle and pray before these holy pictures. Besides
icon painting, the monks also occupy themselves
with other industries. At Kykkos Monastery, the very
potent distilled spirit, red Zivania is produced.
Just 2 kilometres away from the Monastery of Kykkos,
lies the holy monument of Throni and nearby is the
tomb of Archbishop Makarios III, the first president of
Cyprus who as a young man embarked upon his life in
the Church at Kykkos Monastery.

Not far from the birthplace of Archbishop Makarios
III, at the Monastery of Panayia Chrysoroyiatissa,
the monks have their own winery and produce an
excellent Cypriot wine. In the 12th Century a monk,
called Ignatius, is said to have found an icon of the
Virgin Mary in the sea. This he carried up into the
mountains. In a dream, the Virgin Mary is supposed to
have told him to build a monastery in that spot and to
this day the icon is kept in the monastery.
The Greek Orthodox Church has been the mainstay
of religion in Cyprus since the 1st Century AD, so it is
little wonder, that so many of the monasteries have
a long and interesting history. The Church continues
to play a very important role in society today - it has
maintained old style values, the family unit remains
close-knit and old customs have been kept alive. The
Church is so obviously a part of everyday life.
There is a third surviving icon of the Virgin Mary,
covered in silver plate, which can be found high in the
Troodos Mountains at the monastery of Trooditissa.
Further east, lies the monastery of Macheras founded
by two monks who, legend has it, discovered an icon
of the Virgin Mary in a nearby cave. In more recent
years this cave became the hideout of the EOKA hero,
Grigoris Afxentiou.
Naturally, any visitor should remember that a
monastery is a holy place and that it is courteous
to show respect by dressing appropriately. Holiday
makers and pilgrims alike are always welcomed.
However, the monastery of Stavrovouni, high on a
rocky peak overlooking the southern shores of Cyprus,
only allows men to enter. Unusual, one might
think, bearing in mind that the monastery is said to
have been founded by a woman - St. Helena - who
came to the island bringing a piece of the True Cross
with her.
info@oldportcenter.com

Moments
with Celebrities
Through the years a lot of Celebrities visited our
Resort. This year was no exception. Enjoy some of
the moments we captured!
Kostas Makedonas, Greek singer
Peggy Zina, Greek singer
Giannis Vardis, Greek singer
44

KVN Team, Russian comedy actors
Triantafillos, Greek singer
Petros Imvrios, Greek singer
Despina Vandi, Greek singer
Giorgos Tsalikis, Greek singer
Tonia Buxton, television presenter & author
45

KVN Team, Russian comedy actors
Pierluigi Collina, former football referee
Eros Ramazzotti, Italian singer
Giorgos Lianos, Greek singer
Mikhail Shufutinskiy, Russian singer
46

Nicosia: 77A Arch. Makarios III Avenue, Tel. +357 2237 4070
Limassol: Olympic Residence Complex, 28th October Street, Tel. +357 2558 2777
www.tiffany-boutique.com
TiffanyBoutiqueCyprus
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