The Monastery of Ayia Napa
The Ayia Napa monastery is located in the very centre of the town. The name "Ayia Napa" comes from "Icon of Virgin Mary of the forest", and means Holy Forest after an icon of the virgin Mary was found by a hunter in a cave in the woods here. The hunter’s dog was first to see the glowing icon and began barking calling over his master. Many believers heard about the icon and started visiting the cave to see the icon and it became a holy place. The icon is believed to have been put in the cave during the 7th-8th century during the period of iconoclasm when religious images were destroyed.
It is not known exactly when the monastery was built but the church around the cave where the icon was found was built in the 14th century. There is evidence of a Christian community here from the Byzantine era so Ayia Napa got it's name before the year 1366.
The monastery as it is today was built in the 15th century with the cave church at it's centre. It was built by the Venetians who were the rulers of Cyprus at that time. One local legend tells that the stubborn daughter of a Venetian noble wanted to marry a man below her station which her father would not allow. It is said she took refuge in the cave church around the year 1500 and as she could not marry, she built the church, the cells and a monastery out of her own expenses. Gradually the site was expanded to include a women's convent, a Roman chapel and a flourmill. The giant Sycamore tree which stands outside the Monastery gate is said to also have been planted by this Venetian woman.
On the northern side of the courtyard, there is a fountain with the shape of the head of a wild boar. Above that, the two-floor building is standing, in which the Venetian daughter initially lived. Up on the hill, on the west side of the church, there is a small, ancient church, that again according to tradition, the Virgin Mary lay down for a while to rest.
In 1571 Cyprus was under Ottomon rule but unlike other churches, this monastery was not destroyed. Descriptions from travelers in 1625 state that the monastery was largely used as a nunnery and owned large amounts of land. It looked at that time much as it does today. Over the years it varied between being used as a nunnery and a monastery but it said to have lost it's last permanent inhabitants around 1758.
the area around the monastery was not developed at that time and it wasn't until the mid 18th century that the first houses were built in Ayia Napa. The first inhabitants of the village were people from Thessalonica, who abandoned their homeland because of the plague epidemic. Later, in 1813, the monastery was repaired but it did not own a monastic community and therefore, the property of the monastery was rented to local farmers. The buildings of the monastery were used for several needs of the community.
After 1878 when the British ruled Cyprus, it has become the parish church of the village and works were carried out to maintain the historic buildings. By 1990 the needs of the growing village had outgrown the small church and the modern church dedicated to the Virgin Mary was built.
The Monastery area today is an oasis of peace and calm in the bustling town centre of Ayia Napa. It is a wonderful place to spend an hour or two just soaking up the atmosphere.
It is not known exactly when the monastery was built but the church around the cave where the icon was found was built in the 14th century. There is evidence of a Christian community here from the Byzantine era so Ayia Napa got it's name before the year 1366.
The monastery as it is today was built in the 15th century with the cave church at it's centre. It was built by the Venetians who were the rulers of Cyprus at that time. One local legend tells that the stubborn daughter of a Venetian noble wanted to marry a man below her station which her father would not allow. It is said she took refuge in the cave church around the year 1500 and as she could not marry, she built the church, the cells and a monastery out of her own expenses. Gradually the site was expanded to include a women's convent, a Roman chapel and a flourmill. The giant Sycamore tree which stands outside the Monastery gate is said to also have been planted by this Venetian woman.
On the northern side of the courtyard, there is a fountain with the shape of the head of a wild boar. Above that, the two-floor building is standing, in which the Venetian daughter initially lived. Up on the hill, on the west side of the church, there is a small, ancient church, that again according to tradition, the Virgin Mary lay down for a while to rest.
In 1571 Cyprus was under Ottomon rule but unlike other churches, this monastery was not destroyed. Descriptions from travelers in 1625 state that the monastery was largely used as a nunnery and owned large amounts of land. It looked at that time much as it does today. Over the years it varied between being used as a nunnery and a monastery but it said to have lost it's last permanent inhabitants around 1758.
the area around the monastery was not developed at that time and it wasn't until the mid 18th century that the first houses were built in Ayia Napa. The first inhabitants of the village were people from Thessalonica, who abandoned their homeland because of the plague epidemic. Later, in 1813, the monastery was repaired but it did not own a monastic community and therefore, the property of the monastery was rented to local farmers. The buildings of the monastery were used for several needs of the community.
After 1878 when the British ruled Cyprus, it has become the parish church of the village and works were carried out to maintain the historic buildings. By 1990 the needs of the growing village had outgrown the small church and the modern church dedicated to the Virgin Mary was built.
The Monastery area today is an oasis of peace and calm in the bustling town centre of Ayia Napa. It is a wonderful place to spend an hour or two just soaking up the atmosphere.
Address:
Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Virgin Mother of God
PO: 30655
5343 Ayia Napa ,Cyprus
Telephones
Tel: +357-23721795
Fax: +357-23723866
Email: info@churchofayianapa.com
Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Virgin Mother of God
PO: 30655
5343 Ayia Napa ,Cyprus
Telephones
Tel: +357-23721795
Fax: +357-23723866
Email: info@churchofayianapa.com
