NICOSIA (LEFKOSIA) - Cyprus - page 307

Agios Irakleidios
Monastery of Agios Irakleidios MONASTERY
( h 8.30am-6pm)
Easily combined with an excursion to the nearby archeological site of Tamassos is a visit
to this historic monastery which has been occupied by nuns since the 1960s. The original
church was built in the 5th century AD, but the current monastic buildings date from the
late 18th century. The church today boasts the usual panoply of frescos and icons. On a
table to the eastern side of the church you can spot a jewelled reliquary containing the
skull of Saint Irakleidios.
Saint Irakleidios was born in Tamassos and guided St Paul and St Barnabas around
Cyprus. He was later made one of the first bishops in Cyprus by Barnabas. The bishop has
been subsequently credited with the performance of a number of miracles, including exor-
cisms.
Agios Mamas
This is the somewhat forgotten site of the 16th-century Gothic church of Agios Mamas ,
whose arches were never finished in the first place; it's like an exercise in non-starters.
Perhaps that's why the beautiful arches have a sense of nostalgia about them. The church
was built in retrograde Lusignan style, and although the site is locked and cannot be
entered, the arches, nave and two aisles can be easily seen and admired. The isolated ruins
are in the deserted village of Agios Sozomenos , an area that has been abandoned since
some intercommunal incidents in 1964.
The church and village can be reached from Nicosia on the A1, taking exit 6 (for Pot-
amia) and going on to a minor, paved road about 2km before Potamia, following the sign
for Agios Sozomenos.
Maheras Monastery
Maheras Monastery MONASTERY
( h 9am-noon Mon, Tue & Thu)
It's a fair hike out to this sprawling monastery perched in the foothills of the eastern spur
of the Troödos Mountains and under the all-seeing radar installation on Mt Kionia
(1423m) to the south. The Maheras Monastery was founded in a similar way to the
Kykkos Monastery ( Click here ) . In 1148 a hermit named Neophytos found an icon