St Nicholas of the Cats Monastery

By tradition one of the oldest monasteries in Cyprus; the exam asks where it is

Local name: Μονή Αγίου Νικολάου των Γατών

Collection: Cyprus Basics Exam · Cyprus · Open in OpenStreetMap

The story

This Orthodox convent stands on the Akrotiri peninsula, at the southern edge of the salt lake, not far from Cape Gata. By tradition, it was founded in the fourth century by Saint Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine. The legend adds that during a drought the cape was swarming with snakes. So Kalokeros, sent by Constantine, brought cats here. Hence the name of the cape: gata means “cat” in Greek. The church was built no later than the fourteenth century. In the sixteenth century the monastery was abandoned, and in 1983 nuns settled here. The monastery stands on the land of the British base of Akrotiri. The United Kingdom kept these territories in 1960, when Cyprus became independent.

The Monastery of St Nicholas of the Cats is in the Akrotiri area (“Στην περιοχή Ακρωτηρίου”), southwest of Limassol. In practice question banks the other options are Agios Nikolaos, Rethymno and Chania; these are places in Crete, so don’t pick them.

Visiting

Entry is free. According to the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, it is open daily 07:00–12:00 and 14:00–17:00; the church itself is temporarily closed for technical reasons, but the courtyard is open. Hours may change. This is a working convent: dress modestly.

Photos

Sources

• Ιερά Μονή Αγίου Νικολάου (των Γάτων) — Ιερά Μητρόπολη Λεμεσού
• Sovereign Base Areas Administration — Cultural Landscape: Archaeology (Akrotiri peninsula)
• Deputy Ministry of Tourism — Agios Nikolaos ton Gaton Convent (St Nicholas of the Cats)
• Exam question bank (unofficial): location of the monastery of St Nicholas of the Cats, answer Akrotiri area

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