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Ayia Zoni church is in the south east corner of Famagusta, close to St Nikolas' church, and is one of three remaining Byzantine churches in the area. Ayia Zoni is dedicated to the sacred belt of the Virgin Mary. According to tradition, the Holy Belt was made by the Virgin Mary herself out of camel hair. It was approximately 90cm long, with little strings at the end to tie it up. Three days after she died, during her ascension, she gave this belt to the Apostle Thomas. Thomas and the other Apostles opened her grave, but didn't find her body. Thus the belt is seen as proof of her ascension into heaven.
At some point, this church must have had a piece of this cloth, a sacred relic of the clothing of Mary. Ayia Zoni is a simple Byzantine church, with a cross shaped plan. It is currently used as a rehearsal room for the municipality theatre group, so it is normally not open. If you do gain access, however, there are some remaining frescoes that can be seen.
References:The Château du Lude is one of the many great châteaux of the Loire Valley in France. Le Lude is the most northerly château of the Loire Valley and one of the last important historic castles in France, still inhabited by the same family for the last 260 years. The château is testimony to four centuries of French architecture, as a stronghold transformed into an elegant house during the Renaissance and the 18th century. The monument is located in the valley of Le Loir. Its gardens have evolved throughout the centuries.
