Stavrovouni/ Mountain of the Holy Cross

The monastery of Stavrovouni is located on the peak of a mountain once known as Olympus and was built over the ruins of an ancient temple dedicated to either Aphrodite or Zeus. It is the earliest documented monastery on the island which had been an important religious centre since the 4th century AD. It was occupied by Orthodox monks but at certain stages of its history was used by Latin Orders. Between the 16th and 19th century there were hardly any monks there until 1889 when a monk moved there from Mount Athos. The monastery of Stavrovouni features a number of relics. A piece of the holy cross is one of its most valued and highly celebrated possessions. Stavrovouni is reputed to be one of the strictest monastic institutions on the island. Its regime of monastic life is said to be most severe and it is often compared to that of Mount Athos. This monastic site remains inaccessible to women. A chapel dedicated to Saint Barbara was built at the foothills to provide for the needs of women pilgrims. The monastery’s geographic position on the top of a steep mountain has contributed to its relative isolation. To this day, Stavrovouni remains one of two monastic establishments that managed to preserve elements of Cypriot ecclesiastical culture. Recently, the monastery underwent a complete renovation and its frescoes were restored. Stavrovouni has a long tradition in icon painting and frescoes. The picture is a realistic representation of the site but the artist uses an unconventional method of applying paint which produces an almost three dimensional effect.