Ancient and amazing Kik monastery in Cyprus

Among the Troodos mountain ranges in the south of Europe is one of the most famous monuments in the world - the Kik monastery. In Cyprus, this structure is often referred to as Kykkos, and if you dig into the depths of history, you can also find out its full name - the Monastery of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Kikk. In order to look at its fair architecture, icons and images that are stored inside, historians gather and simply connoisseurs of beauty from all over the world. We offer you, dear readers, a few minutes to plunge into those ancient centuries, when the church ruled the world and erected the most beautiful and majestic cathedrals.

The Kik monastery in Cyprus is located in the mountainous part of the island. Therefore, they get there most often on foot, but in this area there is a road for cars. But it should be noted that many tourists still prefer to climb to the tops of their own, on the way admiring the mountain slopes and the wonderful nature that abounds in this island.

Kiksky monastery in Cyprus began to build as far back as the 11th century, when the icon of the Mother of God was brought here by the Byzantine emperor Alexy Komnin. According to legend, this image was written by the prophet Luke, and from nature, when the Virgin Mary was still alive. Since the moment when this wonderful icon was on the island, construction of the monastery began. The building was based on the Christian cross, so in the church vocabulary the monastery began to be called a stauropegic.

By order of the Emperor Alexis, the icon of the Mother of God was always to be covered with a velvet veil, so that its light and curative gift would not spread in vain and not be subjected to envious and malicious glances. Several times in the history of the monastery's existence, some princes and rulers dared to violate this prohibition. Some of them after that went blind, someone fell ill and died. It is also interesting that the Kik monastery in Cyprus was repeatedly destroyed by invaders, even experienced numerous fires, but the face of the Blessed Virgin remained unharmed.

The fabulousness of the monastery itself as an architectural structure is amazing. There are a huge number of cells, halls, passages and naves. All this is decorated with mosaic ornaments, paintings and excellent stucco molding. On the walls of the great halls are illustrations that tell stories from the Old and New Testaments. Especially elegant look candlesticks and chandeliers, which complement all this beauty. And in the south-western wing assembled icons of the Kik monastery, as well as many archaeological finds that have religious significance.

This building is a significant symbol of the early Middle Ages. It displayed simultaneously the luxury and restraint of that troubled time, as well as artistic fantasy and meekness of earthly thoughts. Finding the Kiksky monastery on the map of Cyprus is easy, but if you dare not go there yourself, then book an excursion.