Monastery of St Chrysostomos

Monastery of St Chrysostomos Cyprus Usefull Information

This monastery, the white buildings of which have been in view ever since departure from Nicosia, belongs to the Orthodox See of Jerusalem, not to the Church of Cyprus. Twin Byzantine churches stand against each other in the centre of the enclosure. In spite of appearances to the contrary, the church standing to the left or south is the older of the two. It was demolished and rebuilt in 1891, and much of its beauty was lost. However, in its present form the church, which according to tradition was built by St Helena after her visit to the Holy Land, is the pride of the monks. It retains the original apse, portions of a marble floor in geometric design and a fine west door beautifully designed in wood and fitted together without the use of nails - a wonderful example of carpentry. The icon of St Chrysostomos, painted in 1589, is especially venerated. Contrary to usual practice, it has been freed from its silver-gilt protective casing.

The church to the north, dedicated to St John Chrysostomos, is in disuse, but is almost as interesting as its neighbour. Until a few years ago, only the sketchiest traces and fragments remained of great wall paintings which once covered the whole of the interior surface. Much plaster had fallen, revealing the original Byzantine structure in the form of courses of brick and stone. But work begun in 1963 by the Center of Byzantine Studies of Dumbarton Oaks, U.S.A., and the Department of Antiquities, Cyprus, has revealed exceptionally beautiful late eleventh-century frescoes.

The monastic buildings are in the main modern, though a few marble pillars and capitals are left over from earlier buildings, and giant beams in what were used as guest rooms are supported by equally massive carved brackets. Apart from the churches, what is most attractive here is the view across the whole of central Cyprus. Until latterly this was a most hospitable and comfortable religious guest house. But at the date of going to press the buildings are under military occupation, though visitors are permitted to visit the churches.

The monastery has one tremendous cypress, which is a noted landmark, and also a spring of water credited with power to cure leprosy and other skin diseases. This miraculous property was discovered by a Byzantine princess who was gratified to see that her pet dog was cured of mange after immersion.

Seen from a ridge above the monastery a fascinating place for echoes the Castle of Bufavento seems to grow out of the topmost peak of the mountains. Its stonework is only distinguishable from the natural rock by a slightly yellower tinge. The castle appears to hang precariously forward, and seems closer than it in fact is.

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