The Acheiropoietos Monastery (Greek: Μονή Ἀχειροποίητου, also Παναγία Ἀχειροποίητος and Acheripoetos) in Lambousa near the village of Karavas in the Kyrenia District, was a medieval Byzantine Orthodox Monastery. The monastery is currently under the conservation of the International Center for Heritage Studies of Girne American University.[1]
According to tradition, the monastery got its name from an acheiropoietos (meaning made without hands), an icon believed to have been miraculously moved from its original location in Asia Minor by the Virgin Mary in order to save it from destruction due to the Turkish conquest.[2][3]
The monastery soon gained prominence and eventually became the religious center of the region. The monastery was the headquarters of the Bishop of Lambousa, one of the 15 Bishops on the island until 1222.[4][5]
According to legend, the shroud of Joseph of Arimathea was once held in the monastery and was taken to Turin, Italy, in 1452 where it remains today and is now known as the Shroud of Turin.[4]
In 1735 the Russian Monk Vasily Barsky visited the monastery and noted that there were nine to ten monks on the premises.[6] Some years later, in about 1760, Petermann, a German traveler who visited the monastery in 1851, recalled that ninety years before his time Turkish raiders from Karaman had looted and burnt the monastery.[6] By the nineteenth century, the number of monks had been reduced further, and by the twentieth the monastery counted no resident monks.[4] Following independence, Greek soldiers were billeted in the residential buildings of the monastery and after the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, the monastery became a military encampment and barracks for the Turkish Army.[6] The complex continues to be closed to the public.
ArchitectureEdit
The Monastery was built in the 11th century on the foundations of a ruined 6th-century Christian church.[4] Through the centuries, constant rebuilding has given the complex different architectural styles from different time periods, including early Christian, Byzantine, Lusignan, Gothic and Frankish.[4][5] The present structure has two domes and a Gothic narthex.[6][7]
Lambousa TreasureEdit
In 1897 a hoard of early Byzantine silver items was uncovered near the monastery. Known as the Lamboussa Treasure, or First Cyprus Treasure, it comprised a variety of liturgical objects dating from 6th or 7th century, perhaps deliberately hidden during the Arab invasion of Cyprus in 653 AD. The hoard was acquired by the British Museum in 1899.
External linksEdit
Inventory of Byzantine Churches on Cyprus
ReferencesEdit
^"Faculty of Architecture, Design & Fine Arts The American University". Architecture.gau.edu.tr. Retrieved 2017-04-08.
^Darke, Diana (2008). North Cyprus : the Bradt travel guide (6th ed.). Chalfont St. Peter: Bradt Travel Guides. p. 152. ISBN9781841622446. Just 200m beyond the headland to the west, you can see the little churches of Akhiropitos Monastery and Ayios Eulalios, now unfortunately firmly within a military camp.
^"Ancient Cyprus in the British Museum". The British Museum. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
^ abcde"Akhiropiitos Monastery,". A Guide for Residents and Visitors. Whatson-Northcyprus. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
^ ab"Girne'deki Diğer Gezilecek Yerler:" (in Turkish). Retrieved 9 February 2013.[permanent dead link]
^ abcd (in Greek). Archived from the original on 3 May 2018. Retrieved 9 February 2013. Μετά την Τουρκική εισβολή στη Κύπρο το Μοναστήρι λεηλατήθηκε και μετατράπηκε σε στρατώνα του Τουρκικού Στρατού και παραμείνει έτσι μέχρι σήμερα.
^Documents: working papers, 2002 ordinary session (third part). Council of Europe: Parliamentary Assembly. 2002. p. 114. ISBN9789287149688. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
August 25, 2023
acheiropoietos, monastery, church, thessaloniki, church, acheiropoietos, greek, Μονή, Ἀχειροποίητου, also, Παναγία, Ἀχειροποίητος, acheripoetos, lambousa, near, village, karavas, kyrenia, district, medieval, byzantine, orthodox, monastery, monastery, currently. For the church in Thessaloniki see Church of the Acheiropoietos The Acheiropoietos Monastery Greek Monh Ἀxeiropoihtoy also Panagia Ἀxeiropoihtos and Acheripoetos in Lambousa near the village of Karavas in the Kyrenia District was a medieval Byzantine Orthodox Monastery The monastery is currently under the conservation of the International Center for Heritage Studies of Girne American University 1 Acheiropoietos MonasteryMonh ἈxeiropoihtoyAcheiropoietos Monastery35 21 10 N 33 11 26 E 35 35278 N 33 19056 E 35 35278 33 19056LocationLambousaCountryDe jure Cyprus De facto Northern CyprusDenominationGreek OrthodoxHistoryFounded11th centuryDedicationVirgin MaryCult s presentHoly TrinityRelics heldShroud of Joseph of ArimatheaArchitectureStyleByzantine architectureSpecificationsNumber of domes2Number of spires1AdministrationMetropolisChurch of Cyprus The Church of Panagia Acheiropoietos from the south west as the monument stood in 1973 Contents 1 History 2 Architecture 3 Lambousa Treasure 4 External links 5 ReferencesHistory EditAccording to tradition the monastery got its name from an acheiropoietos meaning made without hands an icon believed to have been miraculously moved from its original location in Asia Minor by the Virgin Mary in order to save it from destruction due to the Turkish conquest 2 3 The monastery soon gained prominence and eventually became the religious center of the region The monastery was the headquarters of the Bishop of Lambousa one of the 15 Bishops on the island until 1222 4 5 According to legend the shroud of Joseph of Arimathea was once held in the monastery and was taken to Turin Italy in 1452 where it remains today and is now known as the Shroud of Turin 4 In 1735 the Russian Monk Vasily Barsky visited the monastery and noted that there were nine to ten monks on the premises 6 Some years later in about 1760 Petermann a German traveler who visited the monastery in 1851 recalled that ninety years before his time Turkish raiders from Karaman had looted and burnt the monastery 6 By the nineteenth century the number of monks had been reduced further and by the twentieth the monastery counted no resident monks 4 Following independence Greek soldiers were billeted in the residential buildings of the monastery and after the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974 the monastery became a military encampment and barracks for the Turkish Army 6 The complex continues to be closed to the public Architecture EditThe Monastery was built in the 11th century on the foundations of a ruined 6th century Christian church 4 Through the centuries constant rebuilding has given the complex different architectural styles from different time periods including early Christian Byzantine Lusignan Gothic and Frankish 4 5 The present structure has two domes and a Gothic narthex 6 7 Lambousa Treasure EditIn 1897 a hoard of early Byzantine silver items was uncovered near the monastery Known as the Lamboussa Treasure or First Cyprus Treasure it comprised a variety of liturgical objects dating from 6th or 7th century perhaps deliberately hidden during the Arab invasion of Cyprus in 653 AD The hoard was acquired by the British Museum in 1899 External links EditInventory of Byzantine Churches on CyprusReferences Edit Faculty of Architecture Design amp Fine Arts The American University Architecture gau edu tr Retrieved 2017 04 08 Darke Diana 2008 North Cyprus the Bradt travel guide 6th ed Chalfont St Peter Bradt Travel Guides p 152 ISBN 9781841622446 Just 200m beyond the headland to the west you can see the little churches of Akhiropitos Monastery and Ayios Eulalios now unfortunately firmly within a military camp Ancient Cyprus in the British Museum The British Museum Retrieved 9 February 2013 a b c d e Akhiropiitos Monastery A Guide for Residents and Visitors Whatson Northcyprus Retrieved 9 February 2013 a b Girne deki Diger Gezilecek Yerler in Turkish Retrieved 9 February 2013 permanent dead link a b c d PANAGIA H AXEIROPOIHTOS LAPH8OY KYPROS in Greek Archived from the original on 3 May 2018 Retrieved 9 February 2013 Meta thn Toyrkikh eisbolh sth Kypro to Monasthri lehlath8hke kai metatraphke se stratwna toy Toyrkikoy Stratoy kai parameinei etsi mexri shmera Documents working papers 2002 ordinary session third part Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly 2002 p 114 ISBN 9789287149688 Retrieved 9 February 2013 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Acheiropoietos Monastery amp oldid 1156033837, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
