Monasteries in Paphos
From all the must-see churches and monasteries in Paphos, we have selected the following three landmarks: Agios Neophytos Monastery, Panagia Chrysorroyiatissa Monastery, and the Byzantine basilica whose ruins contain the church of Agia Kyriaki Panagia Chrysopolitissa.
Top Things That Make the Monasteries in Paphos Remarkable
Many of the churches and monasteries of Paphos are regarded as heritage sites of substantial artistical and cultural value. A visit to one of these sacred spaces is a transformative experience that connects your soul with the divine whether you are a believer or not. Many of these religious monuments are part of the area inscribed in the list of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1980, while others are riches of Greek Orthodox faith highly treasured by the Cypriots. You will find beautiful churches in every village on the island, numerous dating back hundreds of years. There are also those landmarks with a checkered past, like the Agia Solomoni Church and Catacombs, the burial site of the seven Maccabees and their mother, Solomonia. Or, who can forget St. Paul’s Pillar next to the ruins of the basilica at Panagia Chrysopolitissa?
For a short introduction to the religious heritage sites to seek out when you visit Paphos, here’s a roundup of three.
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Ayios Neophytos Monastery
The Ayios Neophytos Monastery, dedicated to Saint Neophytos (the Recluse), is the most important monastery in Paphos. In 1159, Neophytos himself found refuge in a small natural cave, which he turned into a little chapel with a hermit’s cell. Later, after 1170, when the Bishop of Paphos convinced him to take in a novice, the cave became a small monastic community. In time, the Agios Neophytos Monastery grew into a large Engleistra decorated with priceless artworks.
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Panagia Chrysorroyiatissa Monastery
The Panagia Chrysorroyiatissa Monastery was founded in the 12th century when a monk called Ignatius brought here an icon of the Virgin Mary supposedly painted by St. Luke the Evangelist. Legend has it that, to be protected from destruction, the holy icon was thrown in the sea in Asia Minor during the first period of the Byzantine Iconoclasm and reached safety on the coast of Paphos. The monastery is dedicated to the Our Lady of the Golden Pomegranate and its current building dates from 1770.
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Panayia Chrysopolitissa Church
On an island where most of the population is Greek Orthodox, the church of Agia Kyriaki Chrysopolitissa is a dream come true for many Catholic couples who want to tie the knot in paradise. It’s a beautiful church, which traces its roots back to the largest basilica of Cyprus in the 4th century AD.
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