The Church of Panagia tou Araka is located among the green woods at the foot of the Troodos mountains near the village of Lagoudera. It was built in the late XII century. It is believed that the initiator of the Church became rich Byzantine lion Autant.

Originally it was a stone structure with a roof in the shape of a cross and the traditional Orthodox churches with a dome. Nowadays, however, to protect ancient building from the rain and wind, it was covered with a kind of "sarcophagus" – she has a new tile roof right over the old one, and on all sides were wooden lattice.

The Church of Panagia tou Araka is famous not only due to its venerable age. Particularly known for the temple was purchased due to its unique frescoes, which were created in 1192, but very well preserved to our days.

All figures are particularly soft shapes and rounded lines and also amazingly harmonious color combinations. The frescos depict the virgin Mary with little Jesus in her arms with the archangels, scenes from the Bible, and various saints.

The inscription on one of the walls of the Church States that the author of the frescoes is hieromonk Theodore, therefore, considered that they were all made by the famous Greek painter Theodor Apseudes, which is also known as Theodore of Pseud.

In addition, in the Church there are a few drawings that relate to the later period ( XVI and XVII century) and depicting Jesus Christ, John the Baptist and other important figures in the history of Christianity.

Basically, it is because of these frescoes the Church of Panagia tou Araka was included in the world heritage List of UNESCO. Today this place is considered one of the most important cultural monuments of the Byzantine era.