Ayia Napa is one of the famous resorts in Cyprus, where you can find not only the beaches with clean white sand and the gentle warm sea, but also a large number of modern entertainment, clubs and restaurants. Ayia Napa Monastery is located very close to the coast, so guests of the resort can take a fascinating journey and enjoy this amazing attraction.
From the depths of centuries
The past of Ayia Napa Monastery is shrouded in mystery. The appearance of the building is explained by romantic local legends. The first of them plunges us into the world of the distant past, when in the territories now occupied by the monastery, there was such a dense forest that it was possible to hunt here. It was during the search for prey that one of the hunters noticed a strange light coming from one of the caves. Moving closer, he discovered the icon of the Virgin, which, most likely, was left here by monks of the 12th-13th centuries to save from iconoclasm. This amazing find gave the name to the holy place. So, the word "napa" in Greek means "forest", and "ayah" - holy. The icon originally found in the forest cave was called the Virgin of Napa, but then it was reduced to Ayia Napa. Learning about the holy find, crowds of believers poured here and not far from the cave in the 15th century a small church was erected, which gradually grew to a monastery. Nearby was a source of clean water, which later began to be attributed miraculous power.
The second legend is more tragic. A rich girl could not marry for love, because her chosen one was an ordinary commoner, and her parents categorically did not give consent to marriage. In despair, the beautiful woman, whose name history did not preserve, got a haircut as a nun and began to live in a dark cave in a thicket of forest. Later, wealthy parents built a church and cells there. The monastery gradually grew, becoming a monastery that has survived to this day.
We cannot know whether the facts included in the legends are reliable, but it is known for certain that the Ayia Napa monastery appeared in the 15th century, when Cyprus was under the rule of Byzantium.
Facts from the story
The amazing cloister has a rather unusual story. She repeatedly changed her mission from a male monastery to a female monastery, religion from Catholicism to Orthodoxy, but did not undergo serious metamorphoses in architecture. The conquest of the Ottomans entailed the expulsion of the local clergy, and the monastery became Orthodox. This monastery was abandoned in the 18th century, the reasons that prompted the monks to leave their usual cells remained unclear. From this period, Ayia Napa has remained abandoned.
The monastery was restored in the 50s of the last century, it was then that the monastery was put in order, and now it is open to numerous visitors. Previously, it was a temple of the Cypriot Orthodox Church, now it is a museum where you can admire the features of the church decoration of past eras.
Description
Ayia Napa Monastery in Cyprus is notable for its true picturesqueness and beauty. In the north, there is an amazing fountain made in the shape of a boar's head, in the southern half of the monastery courtyard there is a centuries-old ficus sycamore tree, which, according to legend, was planted by a beautiful recluse. Now the height of this giant is more than 20 meters. There is also an unusual fountain lined with marble. This courtyard bears the name "Fountain Courtyard", it is here, as legend has it, that the noble founder of the monastery was buried.
The monastery itself is small, the church includes three rooms:
- The oldest of them belongs to the period of Byzantine rule and was hollowed out in a cave, in the same one where the hunter discovered the holy icon. It has a separate entrance.
- The Venetian Hall dates back to the XV-XVI century. From it you can go to the third room.
- Hall of the era of the Crusades.
Each of them has its own unique features and the specifics of the interior.
Monastery complex
Near the northern gate there is a two-story building where, according to legend, a sheared aristocrat lived. During the period of Turkish rule, a gallery with arches was attached to the monastery.
The complex includes 9 churches and chapels. The belt of the Virgin Mary, which is considered the main shrine of the monastery, is also stored here. A small chapel, erected on the spot where the Virgin Mary rested, has a solitary prayer, there are several ancient icons, and the atmosphere itself breathes spirituality.
Location Features
Consider how to get to Ayia Napa Monastery. First of all, you need to get to the city itself, about 60 km from it is the nearest international airport in Larnaca. This is a fairly large city in the southeast of Cyprus. From Larnaca to Ayia Napa can be reached by bus or taxi.
The monastery itself is located in the central part of the city, not far from Seferi Square and the coast, it is easier to get to it on foot or on a rented bicycle. It’s possible by car, but it’s important to remember that there is no parking nearby, so transport will have to be left in one of the nearby streets, the main thing is to remember exactly where. The bus also goes here, route number 101, the “Center” stop. It is difficult to miss the monastery, it is visible from afar and gives the impression of a knight's castle of the Middle Ages.
Visiting the monastery is free, but it is important to know the opening hours. Ayia Napa Monastery is ready to receive guests in the summer from 9-30 to 21-00, in winter, the working hours are different - until 15-00. The monastery cathedral is open from 11-00 to 20-00. Since the monastery is not large in size, but there is something to see, a visit to the sights should be planned for 4-5 hours.
Helpful information
We offer you to familiarize yourself with some data that will be useful to guests of Cyprus.
- At the monastery you can buy a bottle of healing water from a local source, it will cost 1 €.
- The best time to visit Ayia Napa Monastery is in the morning, while it is not very hot.
- Guests are offered a church shop where you can buy wooden icons in gilded salaries, healing mud, books or fragrant honey. Not far from the monastery, local merchants have the opportunity to buy quality olive oil at a reduced price.
- Photographing in the museum is allowed.
All this will make a walk through the Ayia Napa monastery in Famagusta unforgettable and useful.
Interesting Facts
Let's get acquainted with some interesting facts about the holy monastery:
- The monastery is known as the storage place of the bedspreads of St. Veronica, which she transferred to Jesus ascending to Calvary.
- Many people believe that the icon and belt of the Virgin have healing power and are able to solve the problem of female infertility, therefore many couples come here dreaming of a miracle. Also, this shrine improves the condition of pregnant women and gives them easy birth.
- Many believe that the water from a well located near the monastery is also endowed with healing power.
Ayia Napa Monastery is a place to visit that will be interesting even to people far from religion. It is very beautiful here, samples of ancient architecture delight the eye, and stunning frescoes and interior decoration will be retained in memory for a long time.