Cypriots are an extremely religious people.On the island there are many churches, cathedrals and monasteries. It is the monasteries of Cyprus that are the true pearls of the country. The stories of these shrines have much in common with each other, but each of them is of particular interest to tourists. Often in the mountains there were icons that were hidden there during the times of iconoclasm. After such finds, most abbeys settled in Cyprus. People who passionately believe in God, perceived such findings as God's providence and a sign in order to build a monastery. There are legends telling that people often saw dreams from which they received information about where the icon was buried and where the future monastery should be.
General information about the Cypriot monasteries
Cyprus is called an "island of saints".And this name justifies itself. The first monks-devotees from Eastern countries rushed here. Later, the monasteries of Cyprus were replenished with religious figures from Asia Minor, Egypt and Syria, as well as from those countries in which the best living conditions did not develop for Christians. To date, the island has many public monasteries, as well as objects that used to be hermits' haven. You can also find the tombs and caves of the first ascetics.
After the island proclaimed itsindependence, the monasteries of Cyprus reach a new peak. In places of ancient monasteries, there were built women's and men's monasteries, which are now open to Christians from all over the world. In the monasteries, nuns and monks spend daily services and do manual work. Ministers of some monasteries actively cultivate the land. So, the monks grow cereals, olives, fruits and flowers on their own plots of land. In many abbeys you can meet your own apiaries and livestock farms.
Cyprus monasteries receive income due to the fact,that they sell their own products and all kinds of products. The funds received go for the maintenance of monasteries, charity events and participation in social and humanitarian programs.
Monastery of the Neophyte the Recluse
In their majority, the monasteries of Cyprus aredormitory: they live both men and women. But there are such monasteries in which there is division. The monastery of Neophyte the Recluse, or St. Neophyte - is a male stauropegal monastery. The monastery is completely independent of the diocesan local government and is subordinate only to the patriarch. There is an abbey near the village of Tala.
Monk Neophyte in the early 12th century on the spotThe future monastery has built a cave for its seclusion. The cell, which was equipped inside the rock, exists even today. Here the monk lived for 11 years in complete solitude. In 1170 the monk's dwelling started to become a monastery, and later it was transformed into a monastery. In 1187, Neophyte developed for him the first charter.
In the beginning of the XVI century the main temple was builtmonastery. Today on the territory of the monastery there is a museum where you can get acquainted with the manuscripts of St. Neophyte, examine icons of different epochs and antique ceramics.
The monastery, built by Elena
In IV century the queen Elena organized the monasterySt. Thekla (Cyprus). The monastic person stopped here during her trip from Jerusalem to Constantinople. The woman was praying in the open air, and suddenly a source appeared from under her feet. Elena immediately decided to erect a monastery on this site and dedicate it to Saint Feclet. For a long time the monastery was empty, then only a monk lived in it.
Restoration of the monastery began only in the 1960syears. Today it is a monastery for women. They say that the source discovered by the queen has healing properties. And the dirt from it is able to heal a person from many skin diseases. Every year on September 24 there is a feast day.
Monastery in the mountains
Monastery of Trooditissa (Cyprus) reviews from touristsgets wonderful. It is an active mansion in the mountains of Troodos. Travelers who visited there say that local people and guides tell a variety of legends about this place. For example, an interesting story is about the name of the abbey. The monastery received its name from the icon, which Luke wrote. History does not know the name of the monk, who brought the icon to the island during the iconoclasm. But it is known that this person wandered around the monasteries of the island until she settled in one of the caves.
After a while the monk died, but about the icon sonobody knew. But one day the village shepherd saw that something was shining inside the mountain, and thus he found a holy face. After a while, half a kilometer from the cave was built a temple, which later became a monastery.
Monastery of German hermits
Talking about the holy monasteries of Cyprus,It is impossible not to mention the abode of St. George Alamanu. This is a nunnery, which was opened by German hermits from Palestine. Initially, the abbey was open to the man, but in the middle of the last century, nuns moved from the monastery in Dherinia, and it turned into a female abode.
