Kykkos Monastery is the largest and most famous monastery in Cyprus. Founded in AD 1100 by the Byzantine emperor Alexios Komnenos, after the hermit Isaiah, who lived in the Troodos mountains, revealed that his daughter could be healed from a rare incurable disease if he would consent to build a monastery and donate to it the icon of the Virgin he possessed, reputedly painted by the Apostle Luke. The monastery is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Kykkos Monastery is ornately decorated and covered in a silver gilt, enclosed in a tortoiseshell ... [read more]

ST. NEOFYTOS The story of Agios Neofytos and the Holy Monastery. About one kilometre from the village of Tala lays the Monastery of Agios Neofytos. St Neofytos was born in 1134 in the village of Lefkara one of poor large family. At the age of 18 his parents arranged his engagement against his wishes, which was usual in those days. Neofytos ran away from the village and went to the Monastery of St. John of Koutsoventis to become a monk. Because he was illiterate he was assigned to the cultivation of the monasteries vines. While... [read more]