St Andrew's Church - RAF Akrotiri

07/06/2026

Our Cyprus pilgrimage is complete. We began in February near Salamis, where Barnabas (who was from Cyprus) came back to the island with the apostle Paul, who was embarking on his first missionary journey. Paul and Barnabas then travelled across the island to Paphos. This has been our journey, around 170 miles, and yesterday we finished with a walk to St. Paul’s Pillar, where tradition has it that Paul was tied and flogged 39 times.
We were joined yesterday by most of the friends who have shared in our journey at some point, plus a couple of new faces. It has been wonderful to share the journey with others, praying and reflecting together, sharing fellowship and enjoying lots of laughter on the way.

Please consider, if you haven’t done so already, supporting one (or both) of our chosen charities (Scotty’s Little Soldiers and Macmillan Cancer Support). Thank you for the donations already made.
For more information click on the following links.

https://www.justgiving.com/page/michael-collins-7?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL&utm_campaign=lc_frp_share_transaction_fundraiser_page_launched

https://www.justgiving.com/page/michael-collins-8?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL&utm_campaign=lc_frp_share_transaction_fundraiser_page_launched

04/06/2026

Our Cyprus Pilgrimage, following in the footsteps of St. Paul, from Salamis to Paphos, will finish on Saturday. We began in February and will have walked about 170 miles by the end of our journey.
On Saturday we will return to a seaside taverna, close to Paphos Airport, and walk about 12 miles to our final destination, St. Paul’s Pillar in Paphos.

To support our charities, click on the following links.

Scotty’s Little Soldiers
https://www.justgiving.com/page/michael-collins-7?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL&utm_campaign=lc_frp_share_transaction_fundraiser_page_launched

Macmillan Cancer Support
https://www.justgiving.com/page/michael-collins-8?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL&utm_campaign=lc_frp_share_transaction_fundraiser_page_launched

27/05/2026

Cyprus Pilgrimage: Pissouri village to Paphos Airport (17 miles)

An epic walk yesterday, for which we were joined by Frances. Starting in Pissouri, we descended down the Genesis Aphrodite Trail to the coastline, enjoying beautiful views of the sea and the landscape. We then proceeded towards Aphrodite’s Rock. After a brief rest we continued along the coast before heading inland towards Kouklia, which is where the ancient city of Palaipafos was once located. From there we went back towards the coast, following a series of tracks to the village of Mandria. Finally, we reached the shoreline, stopping near the entrance road into Paphos Airport.

On 6th June we will complete the Salamis to Paphos pilgrimage with our last walk from the airport to St. Paul’s Pillar.

25/05/2026

Cyprus Pilgrimage (Salamis to Paphos)

Paramali to Pissouri

Another stage completed on Sunday afternoon. Accompanied by Charlotte and Paul we began in Paramali village and headed towards Avdimou beach. We then followed the coastline, enjoying glorious views. After dropping down into Pissouri Bay, we finished with an arduous ascent up to Pissouri village.

We have one more walk this week, which will bring us close to Paphos Airport. On 6th June we will walk the final stretch of our journey to St. Paul’s Pillar in Paphos.

If anyone would like to donate to one (or both) of the charities we are fundraising for, please see the links below. We are very grateful for the donations made so far.

https://www.justgiving.com/page/michael-collins-7?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL&utm_campaign=lc_frp_share_transaction_fundraiser_page_launched

https://www.justgiving.com/page/michael-collins-8?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL&utm_campaign=lc_frp_share_transaction_fundraiser_page_launched

23/05/2026

Cyprus Pilgrimage - Stage 9 - Kolossi to Paramali via ancient Kourion

A great day’s walking, beginning beside Kolossi Castle and finishing in the village of Paramali. A special section of the walk today took us through the archaeological site at Kourion, which would have been a major settlement at the time of St. Paul’s visit to Cyprus.
From the ancient stadium above Kourion we walked behind the Episkopi Cantonment, skirting around the beautiful Sotira reservoir.
Along the way saw beeeaters, swallows, vultures and buzzards, plus lizards and a multitude of butterflies.

Tomorrow we head to the hilltop village of Pissouri.

23/05/2026

22/05/2026

Cyprus Pilgrimage - Salamis to Paphos

Fundraising

One of our motives in taking on the 200km journey is to raise money for charity. As well as the two of us, others from St. Andrew’s and the Akrotiri community have joined us on our walks. Thank you to them for doing so.

We have selected two charities and set up a fundraising account for each.

The first is Scotty’s Little Soldiers, a charity which supports children who have experienced the death of a parent who is, or has been, a serving member of the armed forces.

https://www.justgiving.com/page/michael-collins-7?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL

The second is Macmillan Cancer Support.

https://www.justgiving.com/page/michael-collins-8?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL&utm_campaign=lc_frp_share_transaction_fundraiser_page_launched

We would be appreciative of donations to both, or either, of these worthy causes.

Help Michael Collins raise money to support Scotty's Little Soldiers

22/05/2026

Cyprus Pilgrimage - Salamis to Paphos

Stage 8: Limassol to Kolossi

Last Sunday afternoon our journey continued with a relatively shorter walk from Limassol to Kolossi. At the finish, hungry after a long walk, our group enjoyed an excellent meal together at Theo’s Cafe, opposite Kolossi Castle.

Tomorrow, our pilgrimage continues. From Kolossi we will walk to the ancient archaeological site at Kourion, which would have been an important settlement in the 1st century AD. Did St. Paul visit here on his way to Paphos?
After Kourion, we will continue for another 10 miles before finishing in the village of Paramali.
If you are interested in joining us tomorrow, please send us a message.

16/05/2026

After church tomorrow, in the afternoon, our Cyprus pilgrimage will continue. Starting in Limassol, we will walk to Kolossi Castle, arriving between 3.30 and 4.00pm. It’s a 7 mile walk and the route will bring us close our RAF Akrotiri before we head next week towards Kourion and Episkopi.
The walking group are looking forward to eating at Theo’s Cafe at the end of the walk!
https://www.facebook.com/share/1DJc9LCvVM/?mibextid=wwXIfr

13/05/2026

Cyprus Pilgrimage - Salamis to Paphos

Stage 7: St. Raphael Marina to Limassol Old Town (12.5km)

On Wednesday, Adrian and I were joined by Padre Phil for the next leg of our journey across Cyprus. We have split the leg between east Limassol and Kolossi Castle into two, so that we can complete them over two afternoons.
We took a public bus to our start point, close to archaeological site of Amathus, an ancient settlement which, during the Roman era, became the capital of one of the four administrative regions of Cyprus. Perhaps, St Paul and St Barnabas passed through here on their way to Paphos.

We completed the walk in about 2.5 hours, at a good pace. By the end we ready for at an excellent meal Meze Taverna in Limassol, where we were joined by some friends!

On Sunday afternoon, we will return to Limassol to begin the walk to Kolossi Castle. More details to follow.