Agia Napa Monastery is the well know landmark of Agia Napa area.
The monastery , built like a medieval castle, and the village which sprang up around it, took it is name from the ancient Greek word “Napa” which means “wooded valley”
It seems that in the ancient times, the location where the monastery and the village exists today , was covered with a thick forest, visited only by hunters from the neighbouring villages.#according to a local tradition around the 11th century, a hunter with his dog while chasing a wild hare, the hare suddenly disappeared. The dog continued the chase and was led into a cave where the hare had sought refuge.
On entering the cave , the hunter found himself standin in front of an icon of the Virgin Mary which was soon to become famous all over the island.
It appears that during the iconoclasms in the 8th and 9th centuries AD, some Christians carefully selected this cave to serve as a hiding place for the Virgin Mary’s icon. Upon it is discovery the icon was never moved and was given the name of Virgin Mary of Agia Napa which was later shortened to Agia Napa.
The news of the discovery of this miraculous icon spread quickly in the surrounding villages and the cave of this remote area was transformed into a shrine and a sacred place of pilgrimage by the Christian Orthodox of the area.
The present monastery was built around 1500 AD.
When this location became renowned and important as a holy shrine, according to local tradition, it attracted the attention of a young, noble lady from Venice who then lived in Famagusta.
It is said that her father had strictly forbidden her to marry the mans he loved on the pretext that he was a commoner, so she left home and sought refuge in Agia Napa. She eventually commissioned the building of a church and some monastic cell and in this way the monastery came into being.
During the latter part of VENETIAN RULE,(1489-1570 A.D.) the monastery became very well known, acquired extensive wealth and impressively survived persecutions by the Turks during Ottomanrule.
In 1668, Agia Napa Monastery changed from a woman’s convent to a men’s monastery. From 1758 onwards ,organised monastic life in the monastery was disrupted and monks lived there only on an occasional basis.
The building was restored in 1950 and in 1978 became as an Ecumenical Conferance Centre which serves churin Cyprus as well as churches throughout the Middle East . After Agia Napa grew in numbers, a new church was built 1994, south west of the monastery. The new church is also dedicated to the Virgin Mary and celebrates , along with the monastery, the Feast of the Birth of the Mother of Jesus Christ on september8.
The Agia Napa Monastery is the most popular symbol of Agia Napa but there are several other symbols, small rural churches and chapels in and around the area that reflect the unspoild character of the countryside and the ever traditional inner human spirit that still has a special significance in todat’s modern changing world. These, in some cases , tiny rural churches , are subsidised and supported by Agia Napa inhabitants. Every chapel is dedicated to a patron Saint, where once a year, there is a day of celebration in honour to that Saint.
Agios Antonios chapel is situated on the boundaries of Paralimni and Sotira. A Byzantine chapel built in the 16th century. There is a newer adjacent chapel that was built in the 1980’s which is dedicated to the same Saint. Built on the rocks, this area was a favourite shelter for shepherds who used to spend the night there with their flocks. On January 17th , the annual celebration of the Saint’s name day is recognized.
Agia Thekla is a chapel located a few kilometres west of Agia Napa and lies on the boundaries between Agia Napa and Sotira village. It is thought that there was an ancient settlement or graveyard on the premises . to the west of the church there are indications that quarries were once present. The catacomb of Agia Thekla, not literally a catacomb, is a cave or tomb carved in stone. It is believed that 1571 , Turk Ottoman Piele Pasha Landed here with his trops and marched to Famagusta where they assisted general Moustaffa in the siege of the town.
AGII ANARGIRI
The chapel is situated in the eastern part of the village and is devoted to Saints Cosmas and Damianos who were both doctors and cured the sick people without receiving payment. Under the chapel there is a cave where it is believed the blessed water of the saints is contained.
AGIOS EPIPHANIOS
Saint Epiphanios is a chapel which is devoted to the Byzantine Bishop of Salamis. From this location there is an excellent panoramic view of “Paliochori” a Byzantine settlement which was destroyed during the Arab invasion of 632 to 964AD.
AGIA VARVARA
The chapel of Agia Varvara is in the western part of Agia Napa and was built during the Byzantine period. The chapel was destroyed by an earthquake and rebuilt only recently. There are many cells around the chapel that were once catacombs where the early Christian sought and found refuge when chased by heathens.
AGIA MAVRI
Agia Mavri is a monolith in the western part of Agia Napa. In the middle of this pillar there is a hole where it is believed that anyone suffering from an illness will be cured if passed through. Archaeologist I.. Cesnola refers in his writings to this monolith and said that women who came to the monolith and broke jars, could regain their lover’s affections.
A small church at the monolith was built recently to commemorate the Saint.
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Tags: AGIA MAVRI, agia napa chapels, agia napa monastery, agia thekla chapel, agia varvara, agii anargiri, agios antonios chapel, agios apiphanios