Travel Guide Monastère De Kykkos

Situation. The monastery of Kykkos (Ιερά Μονή Κύκκου) is located at 1 200 m above sea level in Mylikouri (Μυλικουρι, 30 inhabitants), which belongs to the district of Nicosia. The monastery is located 6,5 km northwest of Mylikouri, 16 km west of Pedoulas, 20 km west of Kalopanogiatis, 23 km west of Moutoullas, 75 km northwest of Limassol, 75 km northeast of Paphos, 90 km south-west of Nicosia.Description. We come from the whole island and even from afar around the world to see this monastery dedicated to the Virgin Mother of God (Panagia Theotokos), a religious and religious jewel of Cyprus. But frankly, this is not the most interesting cultural place in the country. Coming here is already a bit complicated, but the whole pleasure of discovery is spoiled by the hordes of Russian tourists (among others) discharged by the tour buses. If it enjoys a beautiful panorama, the site has little to do with it. The current buildings date back to the th and th centuries. The monastery has been destroyed and rebuilt four times since its founding in the th century by the Byzantine Emperor Alexis I. But why so much interest in this place? Because this is here the legendary icon of the Virgin to the Child painted by Saint Luke. If it seems true that the apostle had a good pencil, only a writing says that he painted this portrait of the Virgin, this document dating from the year 520. Not really first hand testimony. Then, even if this icon really exists, there is no indication that it is here. What the pilgrims come here to kiss is a rectangular object protected by a wire wire, itself wrapped with a silver blanket of silver. The last to have seen the content would be the patriarch of Alexandria Gerasimos II Paladas in 1689. So the mystery remains full. It is probably this mystery, well maintained by the Cypriot Church, which has been passionate for centuries. Since its creation, the monastery has received a lot of gifts and gifts, lavish gifts from the various Orthodox communities around the world, but also money cash and triumphed and, above all, land properties (on the island, but also in Russia, Greece and the Middle East) which are still providing considerable political power to the Cypriot clergy. The reputation of the place is also linked to the personality of Archbishop Makarios III, who carries out his first steps in the orders and whose monumental grave overlooks the monastery. Makarios greatly contributed to making Kykkos a representative place of religious power, but also of Cypriot independence. During the fighting against British colonizers, Grivas Digenis, another emblematic figure of the Cypriot resistance, hid near the monastery. Two major religious festivals were celebrated in Kykkos, one on 15 August and the other on 8 September.