Orthodox shrines of Cyprus: overview, features, history and interesting facts

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

Cyprus is not only a famous resort. Many pilgrims are interested in the island for its Orthodox shrines. There are an incredible number of them in Cyprus. The rich past of the island is associated with the formation of Christianity on its lands. According to scientists, Christianity came to Cyprus more than 2 thousand years ago. Religion has undergone many changes over the years. In different eras, there were persecutions against adherents of the faith, monasteries and temples were destroyed. A large number of relics disappeared without a trace, but still some survived. The Orthodox holy places of Cyprus are revered by believers all over the world. Pilgrims from different countries come here. But it will also be interesting for ordinary tourists to take a look at these sights.

A bit of history…

Very often, Cyprus is called the island of saints, because its lands are consecrated by the deeds of numerous saints of God. Christianity was preached here by the holy apostles Mark, Paul and Barnabas. But even before they appeared onthe island already had Christians. The bishop in Cyprus was Lazar the Four Days, who was resurrected by the Lord Jesus Christ. St. Spyridon of Trimifuntsky and St. John V the Merciful were born on the island.

The autocephaly of the Cypriot Church was approved at the Third Ecumenical Council. Cypriots are a very pious people, so there are many temples on local lands that are crowded with people on weekends and holidays. There are many monasteries on the island. For example, there may be several temples in one village.

Christian shrines of Cyprus have long attracted pilgrims. The Great Martyr George the Victorious is most revered by the Cypriots. No less respectful are the Righteous Lazarus the Four Days, the Great Martyr Kharlampy, the Martyr Mamant, Mafra and Timothy.

During the long history of the island, there have been many events that have not had the best effect on local shrines. In 1974, the northern lands of Cyprus were captured by Turkish troops. Many temples of the island were desecrated and destroyed, and some of them were turned into entertainment centers and mosques. Some shrines were looted and disappeared without a trace. And yet there are a lot of places on the island that are worth visiting for pilgrims. In our article, we want to talk about which holy places and shrines to visit in Cyprus. Even if you are far from religion, it is worth seeing the most interesting objects of Christianity during your vacation.

Main shrine

The Royal Stauropegial Kikk Monastery is considered the main shrine of Cyprus. It is located at an altitude of 2 thousand meters above sea level. Roy althe monastery was named for the reason that it was founded by the emperor of Constantinople. Now it is independent and is subordinate to the Cypriot Archbishop Chrysostomos.

Not only all Russian pilgrims, but also ordinary tourists strive to get to the Troodos Mountains and Larnaca. The road to the main shrine of Cyprus is a mountain serpentine. In the Troodos mountains, the weather is cooler (+28 degrees) than on the coast or in Nicosia (+40 degrees). The local slopes are overgrown with cedars, pines and plane trees.

Tradition says that the Blessed Virgin once visited the mountains. At the same place now is the Kykksky monastery - the main holy place in Cyprus. The monastery is highly revered by Cypriots and pilgrims. Local pines have a bizarre bent shape. An old legend says that on the way in front of the Virgin Mary the trees bowed their proud tops. They have remained bowed to this day.

The main shrine of Cyprus is always crowded. All visitors line up in a long line to approach the Kikk Icon of the Mother of God. She is also called the "Kikk Gracious". Pilgrims say that the icon is always covered with a canopy. But, approaching her, everyone feels grace.

History of the Kykkos Icon

A long history is connected with the appearance of the icon in the main Orthodox shrine of Cyprus. In the ninth century, a hermit monk lived on Mount Kykkos. Once, on a hunt, the ruler of the island met him, who thought that the elder did not honor him at the meeting. Therefore, the ruler gave the order to beat the old man.

Shortly after returninghome, he fell ill and realized that he was being punished for his treatment of the monk. The ruler decided to reconcile with the old man. The monk, however, had God's revelation to ask the ruler for an icon of the Mother of God, painted by the Apostle Luke. This image was kept in the emperor's palace.

This request confused the ruler. However, it was soon discovered that the emperor's daughter also fell ill with the same disease. And yet no one wanted to give the original to the monk. Therefore, it was decided to make a copy and offer a choice of both options. The bee that landed on the original helped the monk to make the right choice. So the icon ended up in the Kikk monastery, and the emperor had to come to terms with the loss. But he made a condition that no one should see her again. Since then, the icon has been covered.

History knows several cases when people tried to open it. Each attempt was unsuccessful and ended badly: someone went blind, and someone lost his arm. Here is such an interesting story at the most revered Orthodox shrine in Cyprus.

Tomb of Saint Lazarus

One of the main Orthodox shrines in Cyprus is the tomb of St. Lazarus. Fleeing from persecution after his resurrection, the saint was forced to flee to an island in Kition. Here he lived for 30 years, during 18 of them he was a bishop. Later (in the sixth century), a temple was built on the grave of the saint, which still bears his name.

Now Kition is called Larnaca. The famous resort is popular among tourists. And pilgrims visit it to see the shrine. Relics of Saint Lazarusare in a sarcophagus under the altar. The iconostasis that pilgrims see in the temple dates back to the 18th century. It is skillfully made of wood and is the finest example of woodcarving on the island. It is hard to imagine, but there are 120 images in the iconostasis. All of them date back to the 18th century and are made in the style of Byzantine writing. There are also older icons in the temple.

St. Thekla Monastery

The island has long been famous for its healers. The holy springs of Cyprus are one of the goals of the pilgrimage. If you want healing, then you should go to the monastery dedicated to St. Thekla (the disciple of the Apostle Paul). It contains an old casket with the relics of the saint, as well as her miraculous image.

There are two sources on the territory of the monastery: with water and clay. The latter surprisingly treats skin ailments, if you lubricate the sore spots with it. Eyewitnesses say that the clay never runs out, no matter how much the pilgrims take. Sometimes there is a lot, and sometimes less. But she is always there. Pilgrims collect it with them in containers and take it home to give healing to loved ones.

Northern region of the island

Famagusta was once the most luxurious resort on the island. Fashionable hotels, kilometers of golden beaches, beautiful clear water - all this is a thing of the past. The situation changed after the Turkish occupation of the region. 365 temples functioned in the city earlier - according to the number of days in a year for honoring each of them as a holiday. The Turks destroyed the shrines of northern Cyprus. Only the ruins of majestic structures remained. The wide beach area is now unavailable,because it is fenced with barbed wire and is under the protection of UN troops.

Apostle Barnabas

In the area of Northern Cyprus near Famagusta are the ruins of the ancient city of Salamis, where the Apostle Barnabas was martyred. He became the founder of the Cypriot Autocephalous Church. The Apostle Mark found the body of Barnabas and buried it in a cave along with the volume of the Gospel of Matthew.

After the death of the saint in the city of Salamis, the persecution of Christians began. The burial place of Saint Barnabas was consigned to oblivion. According to legend, at the end of the 5th century AD, the relics of the saint were rediscovered, and in a very remarkable way: the Cypriot bishop Anthemios dreamed of the burial place of Barnabas in a dream. Miracles of healing began to happen here. Later, the cave in which the relics are kept was called the "Place of He alth", and a temple was built near it in honor of St. Barnabas.

Now the region is occupied by the Turks. After their arrival in Cyprus, the monastery was plundered, and all the monks were dispersed. But the temple of the Holy Apostle has been preserved and can be visited. Not far from it is a crypt with a tomb - a particularly revered shrine of Cyprus.

Andrew the First-Called

The Monastery of the Apostle Andrew the First-Called in the northern region of Crete existed until 1974 (before the Turkish occupation). At one time it was one of the most significant on the island. According to ancient legends, the Apostle Andrew performed a real miracle here. After his prayer, a source of fresh water appeared, which is so necessary for people. There has always been a shortage in Cyprusthis resource. An interesting fact is that the source still exists in the ancient temple at the monastery.

Stavrovouni Monastery

Away from the noise of the city, on the top of the mountain, there is an ancient monastery of Stavrovouni, whose name translates as the monastery of the Holy Cross. The monastery was founded by Empress Elena. Its main shrine is a piece of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord, which the saint left here.

There is a legend that the queen was hiding on the island from the storm when she was commanded by God: to build a temple on the island and leave a piece of the Life-bearing Cross here.

Unfortunately, the exact date of the appearance of this shrine in Cyprus is unknown. But the first mention of it dates back to the XI-XII centuries. Initially, the monastery was very small. But later its territory expanded significantly. The monastery has repeatedly experienced periods of active development and decline. And only in the 60s of the last century the situation returned to normal. Now the monastery can be visited by everyone. But the monastery has strict rules that prohibit women from entering it. A chapel was built for them nearby. A particle of the Holy Cross is still kept within the walls of the monastery.

Neophyte Monastery

Not far from Paphos is the monastery of St. Neophyte. They say that in the XII-XIII centuries, the reverend father lived in a cell carved into the rock. Even in his youth, he decided to devote his life to the Lord. He learned to read and write in a monastery, and then led the life of a hermit, building a cell and a temple in the rock. Later to himOther believers also joined. So a small monastery was formed around the mountain. Saint Neophyte was a spiritual writer, and the monastery began to publish his works only now. The exact date of the death of the saint is unknown. It is assumed that he died after 1241, since his last work is dated from this year.

Currently, the cave temple and the cell of the saint are open for pilgrims. And the relics of the Neophyte rest in the monastery, to which believers can venerate. There is a museum on the territory of the monastery, where you can see church utensils and icons, as well as archaeological finds.

Shoes of St. Spyridon

The shoes of St. Spyridon of Trimifuntsky is a sacred thing in Cyprus, highly revered by pilgrims and Cypriots. They say that those who are experiencing financial difficulties, who are facing litigation, should apply to it. The saint willingly responds to the prayers of pilgrims. Spiridon's shoes help to solve material issues.

There is a legend that the saint to this day walks the world and helps people, so his shoes “wear out” very quickly. Once a year, the relics of Spiridon, stored in a temple on the island of Corfu, are changed shoes. And they give old shoes. Therefore, gradually the shoes spread around the world and are stored in different churches. You can also see shoes in the Danilov Monastery (Moscow). In Cyprus, they are kept in the Church of the Virgin Mary in the village of Athien. If you want to ask a saint to help you in solving financial difficulties, by all means go to the temple and venerateshoes.

Most often, Spiridon is addressed with everyday questions. Even during his lifetime, the saint helped people a lot. To this day, people believe in the power of his shoes.

Miraculous icon

In the village of Simvula in the vicinity of Limassol, an icon of the Great Martyr George the Victorious was once found. There was also a monastery, which was later abandoned and forgotten. But in 1992, the saint appeared in a dream to a pious sick woman, speaking of the need to restore the temple.

When she and her husband came to the indicated place, they found a miraculous icon. Later, work began on the restoration of the temple. The woman was soon healed miraculously, and the miraculous icon is kept in the new church to this day. The temple is dedicated to the Great Martyr George. Numerous pilgrims come to it in the hope of receiving grace-filled help and healing.

Meniko Temple

In the village of Meniko in Cyprus there is a temple of the martyr Justina and the holy martyr Cyprian, where their relics are kept. Not far from the church, a holy spring beats, the water in which has an unusual taste. She is healing. The relics are kept at the altar. The priest takes them out to the pilgrims and reads a special prayer. After that, the priest gives each believer a cotton wool with consecrated oil.

In the temple there is a miraculous icon of the Mother of God, before which they pray, asking for children.

Monastery in Nicosia

Currently, the capital of Cyprus Nicosia is divided into two parts by a wall. Part of the city is located on the territory occupied by the Turks, who captured the island in1974. There are a lot of temples in Nicosia with the relics of saints and revered icons. One of them contains the relics of Saints Timothy and Maura.

In the city there is a monument to Archbishop Makarios, who is revered by all Cypriots. He was the first president of Cyprus after the island gained freedom. He was elected to this post three times. Makarios died in 1977. His body was buried in the mountains near the city. As a sign of respect and memory, there is always a guard of honor near the grave.

Instead of afterword

In our article we tried to talk about the most important shrines of Cyprus. In fact, there are a lot of them on the island. Every year, thousands of pilgrims come here in the hope of receiving healing or help from the saints.