Kykkos Monastery

Kykkos Monastery is found on the western part of the Troodos mountains, 18 kilometres away from the summit, and highest point of the island known as Olympus.

It is situated on an altitude of approximately 1200 metres amongst dense forest and rich vegetation. It provides all the necessary prerequisites for monks and believers to devote themselves to prayer and meditation.

There are no regularly scheduled guided tours of the Kykkos Monastery so the best bet would be to find your own way through the site. However, many of the clergy, when not in prayer or going about their ecclesiastical work, are often very eager to explain and help guide you through.

The Kykkos Monastery site is fairly big and you can expect to spend at least one to two hours there. It consists of the monastery building housing the clergy member quarters, the Church itself which houses the miracle icon of the Virgin Mary, one of the three most significant icons in the Orthodox Christian religion worldwide, painted by St. Luke.

As the icon is considered too sacred to look at, it has to be covered by a silver plate on which is embossed a representation of the icon itself. Numerous miracles have been witnessed over the centuries in relation to the icon.

The Monastery also includes a museum and library with some of the richest treasures of Orthodox Christianity and the School of Theological and Social studies. Below the monastery is a tourist pavilion with tourist shops, restaurants and rooms for rent.

The Monastery lies about 50 KM from Nicosia and 40 KM from Limassol.

Highlights:

• Founded in 1100 A.D

• Most important site of the Cypriot Orthodox Christian religion

• Houses the sacred icon of the Virgin Mary, painted by St. Luke

• Numerous miracles have been attributed to the icon

• Striking frescos and mosaics adorn the Monastery's walls and floors

• Most impressive treasures of the Cypriot Orthodox religion are housed in the Museum

• Houses the School of Theological and Social Studies

• Tomb of Archbishop Makarios nearby, first president of the Republic of Cyprus.

• Fantastic views from Mount Throni

• A festival is held here every year during September 8th.

Look Out For:

• Must be suitably dressed to enter the Monastery. No short pants or short skirts will be allowed. Men are suggested to wear long trousers and shirt; women long skirts and shirts. Don't forget this is a place for holy prayer and meditation and is inhabited by many clergymen

• Can be reached by car easily. A taxi will probably cost around €60 from Nicosia and €50 from Limassol. You may also use the bus service which makes its way there on Sundays from the Central bus station in all towns.

• Organised excursions are available at local travel agencies of the offices of the Cyprus Ministry of Tourism in all towns

• The road to the monastery winds through narrow and steep mountain roads.

• It is forbidden to smoke or consume food or drinks within the monastery premises.

• Picture taking within the Church is prohibited, but postcards and other religious memorabilia are available at the Monastery gift shop.