Machairas Monastery description and photos - Cyprus: Nicosia (Topic)

Machairas Monastery description and photos - Cyprus: Nicosia. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The name in English is Machairas Monastery.

Photo and description

Not far from Nicosia, among the lush forests, is one of the most famous active Orthodox monasteries in Cyprus - Macheras Monastery. It got its name thanks to the miraculous icon of the Mother of God Maheriotissa, which translates as "knife". According to legend, the icon, painted by the Apostle Luke, was brought to Cyprus from Constantinople during the time of iconoclasm and hidden in the mountains. For a long time, no one knew exactly where she was. But in the 12th century, two hermit monks Ignatius and Neophytos managed to find a cave, which served as a hiding place for the icon. To get through the dense thickets into the cave, the monks used a knife found nearby. Since the Greek word for “knife” sounds like “maheri”, the icon itself and the monastery erected on the site of that cave were named Macheras.

Funds for the construction of the monastery at the request of Neophytos and Ignatius were allocated by the emperor of Constantinople Manuel Komnenos - at first a small chapel was erected there, and over time a whole complex with a church, residential and outbuildings appeared in that place, which was actively developing. In addition, Macheras received stauropegic status, i.e. independent of the local dioceses, but directly subordinate to the patriarch.

Unfortunately, two large-scale fires - in 1530 and 1892 - almost completely destroyed the monastery, only the famous icon of the Mother of God was saved. Even the knife with which she was found burned out. However, Macheras gradually, albeit slowly, was recovering. It was rebuilt only by 1900.

After Cyprus gained independence in 1960, the life of the monastery improved - all buildings were restored, new chapels and churches appeared. There was also a monument to Gregory Afxentiou - "Macher's eagle", the hero of Cyprus during the struggle against British colonialists.

At the moment, several dozen monks who are engaged in agriculture live in Macheras.

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Topic: Machairas Monastery description and photos - Cyprus: Nicosia.