Monastery of Agios Iraklidios

About

Surrounded by olive groves, the Monastery of Saint Herakleidios is devoted to Saint Herakleidios, a prominent Cypriot saint who played a pivotal role in the dissemination of Christianity in Cyprus. While the monastery's foundations date back to the Early Byzantine era, the present-day building was constructed in the 18th century. Throughout its history, the monastery has experienced both periods of affluence and decline. In the mid-20th century, it was reopened as a female commune, marking it as one of Cyprus's first female monasteries. Now, around 40 nuns reside there. Inside its stone walls, you'll find wonderful frescoes from the 13th and 16th centuries, and the oldest wooden iconostasis in Cyprus, which is adorned with heraldic historical beasts and the armory of various Latin knights. There's also a shop selling sweets and workshops for hagiography and golden embroidery. Admission to the monastery is free, and for opening hours, visitors can check the monastery's website: www.imtamasou.org.cy (in Greek). Photo by Arian Zwegers under CC BY 2.0 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/azwegers/47220241001/in/photostream/)