- Address: Larnaca, Cyprus
- Denomination: Orthodoxy
- Diocese: The Metropolitan of Kitia
- Type: for men
- Founder: Empress Elena (according to the legend)
- Foundation date: 327 year (according to the legend)
- Relics and Shrines: A Part of the Life-Giving Cross, the Belief of Panareth of Pafsky
- Condition: active
The monastery of Stavrovuni in Cyprus is one of the most revered Orthodox monasteries and one of the most ancient on the island. It is located on the top of Mount Stavrovouni, which is translated from Greek as "mountain of the cross" ( Troodos ). The founder of it, according to legend, is the mother of Constantine the Great - the emperor who made Christianity the state religion of the Roman Empire. Equal-to-the-Apostles Elena became famous not only for her active participation in the spread of Christianity, but also for the leadership of the excavations, as a result of which the Life-Giving Cross on which Jesus was crucified, the cross of the repentant robber Dismas and the Holy Sepulcher were found. There was an important event for all believers in 326 AD.
Legends of the monastery
As the legend says, the ship on which Elena was returning from Palestine fell into a terrible storm, and when it stopped, it turned out that the cross of Dismas, which was on the ship, hovered over the top of one of the mountains, supported by the Holy Spirit. Helen herself during the prayer of thanksgiving had a vision according to which she was supposed to build a monastery and five churches on the island in honor of rescuing the ship from a storm.
The monastery was built on the top of a 700-meter high mountain, which has since been called the "Mountain of the Cross", since Elena left part of the Life-Giving Cross in it (this relic is kept here until now) and the cross of Dismas. The last one has not survived to this day - it was stolen several times, the last time - in the 15th century, after which it was never seen anywhere else. Part of the Life-Giving Cross is stored in a special cross made of cypress, which is stored in the niche of the first tier of the iconostasis of the Cathedral in honor of the Exaltation of the Life-Giving Cross.
The monastery of Stavrovouni is also the seat of the most revered Orthodox shrine - the Cyprus icon of the Mother of God.
Appearance of the monastery
The architecture of the monastery of Stavrovouni is very strict; he seems to remind us that modesty is one of the main virtues of a Christian. It does not impress either the exterior or the interiors. Before the monastery is an area from which a very beautiful view of the surrounding countryside opens up; on the square stands the church of All Saints of Cyprus. To get to the monastery itself, from the square you need to climb the stairs. The building itself is quadrangular; The monastery is facing one of the sides to the sea. Entrance to the monastery is decorated with icons of St. Constantine and Helen.
In 1887, because of the fire, the monastery was seriously damaged, but later it was rebuilt. In the course of multiple restorations, wall murals were restored, which are the decoration of the monastery's temples. Plumbing and electricity here were held only in the 80 years of the last century.
How to get to the monastery of Stavrovouni?
The monastery is located 37 kilometers from Larnaca . You can reach it either in the tour group, or by car, rented ; public transport does not travel here. If you are leaving Limassol , then you need a road leading to Larnaca; on it it is necessary to pass about 40 km, then to turn to the road leading to Nicosia , and then once again - directly on the way to the monastery. To get there without problems will help the road signs available on the track in large numbers.
The monastery of Stavrovouni is active, there are about 25-30 monks living in the natural economy who produce incense and are engaged in icon painting. The monastery is famous for its strict charter, women are denied access to its territory. Men can visit the monastery from 8-00 to 17-00 in the winter and from 8-00 to 18-00 in the summer, except for lunch (from 12-00 to 14-00 in the winter and to 15-00 in the summer). Men can enter the territory only in long trousers and shirts with sleeves. Carrying cell phones and cameras inside is prohibited.
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