Ayia Napa Monastery
Ayia Napa Monastery is one of the oldest ecclesiastical institutions in Cyprus. Its name means “holy forest”. It is located on the site of a cave in which a miracle-working icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary was discovered.
General information
The first buildings of the monastery here appeared in the XIV century, during the Venetian rule. They have survived to this day in their original form. In general, the architecture here clearly indicates the Venetian origin of the monastery, which functioned even after the capture of Cyprus by the Turks, although in 1668 the monastery became a male monastery. Active life continued until 1758, after which the monastery was suddenly deserted and remained in this semi-abandoned state until it was reconstructed in 1950. Other important events in the monastery’s history have also taken place in recent decades: in 1978 it became the Ecumenical Conference Center of the Churches of the Middle East (and remained so until 2006), and in 1994 a new Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary was built. Ayia Napa Monastery is also famous for its colorful September festival celebrating the cultural traditions of the region. There are a total of nine different churches and chapels located within the Ayia Napa Monastery.
.Currently, the Ayia Napa Monastery is a museum. Inside it are preserved ancient icons decorated with precious stones. Sometimes solemn religious events are held within its walls. On its territory grows a 600-year-old sycamore tree. Fifty meters from the monastery of Ayia Napa is an Orthodox church. On Sundays it organizes services, which are attended by locals and tourists. In the northern part of Ayia Napa Monastery there is a spring crowned with a boar’s head and a two-storey building, which has survived to this day. The octagonal vault supporting columns, sculptures, frescoes, a fountain and a bell tower are also worthy of attention. In the southwestern part of the complex, a new church of Our Lady of Napa was built in 1990.
.Practical information
Address: Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Virgin Mother of God, 5343 Ayia Napa, Cyprus. PO Box 30655, 5343 Ayia Napa, Cyprus
