- Address: Omodos, Limassol 4760, Cyprus
- Phone: 25422453
- Website: http://www.omodos.org/timios_stavros_monastery.shtm
- Founding: 210 year
Omodos is a village in the Troodos Mountains , to which tourists come every year to visit the legendary monastery of the Holy Cross. Omodos, located just 30 minutes from Limassol , also attracts visitors with its remarkable culture and festivals. Among other things, the villagers gladly treat tourists with home-made bread and wine, since there are many vineyards in the village.
The history of the monastery
There is a legend that many centuries ago the inhabitants of the village next to Omodos saw for several nights a flame in the bushes (it was implied that it was an unburnt bush). Having decided to explore this place, the inhabitants found an underground cave in place of the bush and inside they found a cross, which since then is in the monastery. After this incident, a church was erected over the cave.
In the IV century, by the order of Queen Helena, a monastery was established on the site of the church, which contributed to the creation of more settlements in this and the nearest districts.
What to see in the monastery?
In the monastery are kept fragments of the cross, which at one time crucified Jesus Christ, the remains of the ropes with which Jesus was tied to the cross and nails with which he was nailed. All this is unique and unique specimens all over the world, and in due time nails with fragments of the cross were inlaid into one golden cross, which the visitors of the monastery can now see. Here you can also see the relics of 38 saints and the apostle's head, but they are forbidden to touch them (they are placed under the glass).
In 1850, the monastery was repaired, during which the walls and ceiling were painted (among the artists there were also masters from Russia), and since then it looks the way we can observe it today. The walls of the monastery are decorated with a huge number of icons, frescoes and drawings on religious themes.
How to get to the monastery?
You can get to the village of Omodos from the city of Limassol , where you need to take a regular bus number 40, but it does not go to Omodos infrequently, so you need to find out the exact time of the next trip at the bus station. Also you can rent a car and go to the village on the B8 road, following the signs.
Limassol regularly organizes excursions to the famous village: joining the excursion group, you can easily reach the monastery.
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