Monasteries & Churches
AMBELIKOS TRADITIONAL AGROHOTEL
Monasteries & Churches
Discover the many monasteries of the island, and immerse yourself in their journey of faith, history, and culture
TIMIOS PRODROMOS MONASTERY
Address: Moniatis (16Km)
The Monastery of Timios Prodromos (St. John the Baptist) lies in the Troodos forest area of Mesa Potamos. The Monastery “is located among beautiful mountains covered in dense pine forests, has springs of sweet water near a small river or big deluge”. This was written during the 18th century by the Russian wanderer Barsky during his travels of the whole island, noting down and describing all the Churches and Monasteries he encountered
KYKKOS MONASTERY
Address: F966. (48 Km)
The Monastery of Kykkos is dedicated to Panagia (the Virgin Mary) and contains one of the three icons attributed to Agios Loukas the Apostle and Evangelist. The monastery is the richest and most lavishly adorned Monasteries in Cyprus and tourists visit it by the bus load. It is located in the Marathasa region on a mountain peak at an altitude of 4,320 feet. The icon itself is covered in silver gilt and lies in a shrine made of mother-of-pearl and tortoise shell that stands in front of the iconostasis (the line of icons in a long decorated wall of wood separating the sanctuary from the rest of the church). The Monastery was founded between 11th-12th century A.D. during the reign of the Emperor Alexios Komnenos I (1081-1118 A.D.)
AGIOS IOANNIS LAMPADISTIS MONASTERY
Address: Kalopanayiotis (48 Km)
Although originally a Monastery, this is actually a complex of three churches; Agios (Saint) Herakleidios, Agios Ioannis Lampadistis and a Latin chapel all of which share an enormous single roof made of timber. Throughout its history the complex has undergone restoration and reconstruction work. The Monastery lies on the outskirts of Kalopanagiotis village in the Troodos Mountains. This is another example of the very few churches which have an unknown founding date
PANAGIA TRIKOUKIOTISSA MONASTERY
Address: E804. (28 Km)
This Monastery is dedicated to the Virgin Mary (‘Panagia”) lies 2 km from the Prodromos region. The Church is made from stone and has a tile covered wooden roof. Set in a splendid picturesque environment the church has interesting architecture with five old cells saved until today. Another wing has been built containing fifteen cells. Panagia Trikoukiotissa Monastery comes under the protection and assistance of the Department of Antiquities of Cyprus
PANAGIA CHRYSOKOURDALIOTISSA MONASTERY
Address: Kourdali, (14 Km)
This monastery is located at Kourdali. It was established in the 16th century and has been declared as an ancient monument. We do not know when its dissolution took place, but its church, which is the largest and most picturesque one of the ancient churches of the Solea region, has been preserved. In 2006, the Holy Synod decided to re-establish this Monastery. Since the middle of 2005, the first nun has alrady settled at Kourdali
Holy Cross (Timios Stavros) Monastery
Address: Omodos. (25 Km)
The ornament and true pride & joy of Omodos is the Monastery of the Holy and Life-giving Cross, built at the heart of the community. It rises majestically and with its imposing presence it becomes a significant part of Cyprus's cultural heritage. The Monastery of the Holy Cross is one of the oldest and most historic monasteries of the island. The Monastery's architecture is characteristic. It is a huge, two-levels complex in the shape of (the Greek letter) Π that encircles the church in the north, west, and south with its tall cells and the vaulted arches. One can enter the yard through a vaulted entrance, the so-called "kamaroporta" (arched door), which is found in the north side. Tradition reports that the arched door, which resembles that of a fortress, with its heavy, double crossbars, would not open when Turks who intended to harm the monastery would arrive. The west entrance that today exists in the part of the plaza was opened recently. The complex is consisted of many stone-made cells, cellars, and hostels/hospices.
Panagia Araka
Address: Lagoudera (14 Km)
The church of “Panagia tou Araka” is located in the northern edge of the Lagoudera community and it was built in the 12th century. Internally it is adorned by wonderful hagiographies of the Byzantine era, amongst them being the exquisite hagiography of the Almighty God, as well as a wooden iconostasis dated back to the 16th century. In 1985, the church was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage Monument list.
According to a tradition, in the Byzantine period, a nobleman of the area named Leon Afthentis saw a hawk flying in circles while he was hunting and thought that there would be prey in the area. So, in his effort to catch the prey he found the icon of Panagia (Virgin Mary) and it was then when he decided to build a Monastery dedicated to Panagia