Discover the island of Saints
Transcription
Discover the island of Saints
C h o o s e t h e G o l d e n B ay a s a l u x u r i o u s b a s e a n d e n j o y exploring the island’s religious treasures and monasteries Discover the island of Saints Agios Neophytos Monastery Machairas Monastery Agios Iraklidios Convent Stavrovouni Monastery Panagia Asinou Church Panagia tou Araka Church L ocated in the heart of Larnaka stands the Golden Bay, Larnaka’s prime and only 5-star resort hotel. Overlooking an endless sandy beach, its guest rooms and suites capture Mediterranean luxury. Leisure facilities, dining options and a fitness and beauty centre make every day special, and there is no better way to explore and discover the revered religious roots of the island. Golden Bay Beach Hotel, P.O. Box 40741, Larnaka 6306, Cyprus Tel: +357 2464 5444 | Fax: +357 2464 5451 | E-mail: [email protected] www.goldenbay.com.cy a l l e a s i ly a cc e s s i b l e f r o m t h e G o l d e n B a y Become a pilgrim in Cyprus, where your prayers will be answered in ancient churches and holy monasteries. Whilst the island’s main religion is the Greek Orthodox faith, evidence of Christianity’s entire historical and cultural development through the ages can be felt through the large number of religious monuments. Larnaka – the Heart of Religion Kykkos – An Island Shrine The Troodes mountains are home to the 11th century Kykkos Larnaka’s centrally convenient location makes it the perfect starting point for any island journey and it is a religious trove with many significant monuments such as Agios Lazaros Church, Angeloktisti Church and Stavrovouni Monastery - which was founded by the mother of Agios Constantine the Great, Agia Eleni, who left a fragment of the Holy Cross at the monastery. monastery built by the Byzantine Emperor Alexios Komnenos. It houses one of the three holiest icons of the Virgin Mary, hand painted by the Apostle Luke himself. The revered icon is hidden from direct view and rarely uncovered. It is regarded as the island’s protector against invaders and disasters, with many miracles attributed to it. Kykkos monastery is open for prayer 365 days a year. Монастырь Киккос UNESCO World Heritage Sites Cyprus has no less than 10 Byzantine monuments included in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list, all of which are located in the Troodos region, which is only 45 minutes away from Larnaka. Dating from the 11th to the 17th centuries, the monuments range from small churches to large monasteries and each is unique whether it’s for its richly decorated murals, architectural style or highly refined decoration. The region is characterized by an exceptionally large number of churches and monasteries of the former Byzantine Empire, and it is the significant historical and artistic value that earns them a place on the UNESCO list. An organized route of the monuments – entitled ‘The Cypriot Monuments of UNESCO Religious Route’ - divides them into three regions. Some of the more impressive monuments are those of Agios Ioannis Lampadistis, Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis, Panagia Asinou, Panagia tou Araka, Stavros tou Agiasmati and Timios Stavros. Agios Lazaros Church Saint Lazaros Church is the island’s most important surviving Byzantine monument. Agios Ioannis Lampadistis Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis Stavros tou Agiasmati Machairas Monastery Panagia Angeloktisti Church Angeloktisti Church is an 11th century Byzantine church whose name means ‘built by angels’. The icon of the Virgin Mother of Machairas monastery, build in the 12th century, is one of the second group of 70 icons of the Mother of God, painted by the Apostle Luke. The name of the monastery derives from ‘machairi’ (blade) which the monks used to clear the wild vegetation that obstructed the entrance of the cave where the icon was kept safe from the iconoclasts of Byzantine for 300 years. The monks who found it were led to the cave by a vision. Open daily from 08:30 - 17:30. Machairas Monastery A Stepping Stone to the Holy Land Your devotional journey doesn’t have to end in Cyprus as the island is also ideally situated for a visit to the Holy Land, either by cruise or by air. Mini cruises offer one-day trips, whilst a flight takes just under an hour. Attractions you can visit include religiously significant sites such as Mount Zion, Bethlehem birthplace of Jesus, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and Jerusalem Garden of Gethsemane Church of the Holy Sepulchre the Holy Cross Monastery.