Must-see
Stavrovouni Monastery
One of the oldest monasteries in Cyprus, keeping a piece of the Cross
The story
Stavrovouni is an Orthodox monastery for men, the Monastery of the Holy Cross. It stands on a steep summit about 750 meters high near the village of Pyrga, in the Larnaca district. The name means “mountain of the Cross”, and in ancient times this mountain was called Olympus. According to local tradition, the monastery was founded in the early 4th century by Saint Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine. She is said to have left a piece of the Cross here, and that relic is now kept in the main church. Written records of the monastery survive from around the turn of the 12th century. In 1889 it was taken over and restored by Cypriot monks from Mount Athos, led by the elder Dionysios. Women are not allowed inside.
In the question about the richest and most famous monastery in Cyprus, Stavrovouni is a wrong option; the right answer is Kykkos. Remember Stavrovouni itself as the monastery of the Cross in the Larnaca district: tradition links its founding to Saint Helena, and its main feast is 14 September, the Exaltation of the Cross.
Visiting
Free entry. Women may not enter the monastery itself; the shop at the entrance and the nearby Chapel of All Saints are open to them. Men need modest clothing. Hours depend on the season, with a midday break, so better check before you go.
On the way
Photos
Sources
- Metropolis of Kition: Ιερά Μονή Σταυροβουνίου (“Monuments” section): ancient name of the mountain, Olympus, the tradition of Saint Helena, first records, 1889, the elder Dionysios, the piece of the Cross in the main church
- Church of Cyprus: Ιερά Μονή Σταυροβουνίου (ανδρική): near Pyrga in the Larnaca district, feasts on 14 September and the Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross
- Larnaca District Tourism Board: Stavrovouni Monastery: altitude, rules for women, shop and chapel at the entrance, opening hours
- Unofficial exam question bank (GitHub): question about Kykkos Monastery, Stavrovouni among the answer options
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