Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The story behind the monastery started with a hermit called Esaias (Isaiah), who lived
in a cave close to the site. One day in the forest, Esaias crossed paths with a hunter from
Nicosia, Manouil Voutomytis, who was also the Byzantine governor of Cyprus. Vouto-
mytis was lost and asked directions from the recluse, only to be ignored because of Esai-
as' ascetic vows. The self-important hunter became outraged at what he perceived to be
the hermit's insolence, cursing at him and shoving him as a lesson.
Upon returning to Nicosia, Voutomytis began to suffer incurable lethargy. He recalled
how he had mistreated Esaias and set out to beg forgiveness, in the hope of restoring his
failing health. Meanwhile, a vision from God appeared to Esaias, telling him to charge
Voutomytis with the task of bringing the Icon of the Virgin Mary from Constantinople to
Cyprus.
At the hermit's request, and after much soul-searching, Voutomytis was eventually able
to bring the icon to Cyprus. He convinced the Byzantine emperor in Constantinople,
whose daughter suffered the same lethargic affliction, that she would be saved if they did
what the hermit (and therefore God) had asked.
The icon, said to be painted by St Luke, is one of only three that survive. For the last
four centuries it has sat in a sealed, silver-encased box within the Kykkos Monastery.
Byzantine Museum
MUSEUM
(
%
2294 2736; admission €5;
h
10am-6pm Jun-Sep, to 4pm Oct-May;
p
)
This museum houses much of the monastery's fabulous wealth, including Byzantine and
ecclesiastical artefacts. On the left when you enter is an antiquities display. In the large ec-
clesiastical gallery are early Christian, Byzantine and post-Byzantine vestments, vessels
and jewels. A small circular room houses old manuscripts, documents and topics, and a
rich display of icons, wall paintings and carvings can be found in the larger circular cham-
ber.
Tomb of Archbishop Makarios III
The tomb of the first president of Cyprus is located on Throni Hill, 2km past Kykkos
Monastery. Makarios was buried here at his request, close to the place where he served as
an apprentice monk in 1926. The simple stone sepulchre is overlaid with black marble and
covered by a round, stone-inlaid dome. A huge bronze statue of the archbishop, moved
from Nicosia's Archepiscopal Palace in 2008, now stands on the hill, adding to its
grandeur.
Higher up on the path from the tomb is the
Throni Shrine
to the Virgin Mary. It has
spectacular, endless views of the valleys and roads leading to Kykkos from the east. A
