Cyprus - Kykkos Monastery

 Today Christine set the agenda based on her reading of the guide book she bought with her and others available in the house. She got us going and out of the house by 9am (assisted by the fact that Cigi had us up early again). I vetoed the shortest route, worried about minor roads up in the Trodos mountains, so we ended up taking 

the road through the National Forest. The scenery was stunning

but as the road was very windy with few places to pull off, there was little opportunity to take pictures. It was very different from the sparse scrub, vineyards and olive orchards of the coastal hills. Up here it was cool, moist and the vegetation almost entirely pines and cedars. Often small rock slides had scattered stones across the road as it was cut into steep mountainsides.

This was our first destination, Kykkos Monastery.

Kykkos Monastery which lies 20 km west of Pedoulas, is one of the wealthiest and best-known monasteries in Cyprus. The Holy Monastery of the Virgin of Kykkos was founded around the end of the 11th century^[1] by the Byzantine emperor Alexios I Komnenos (1081–1118). The monastery lies at an altitude of 1318 meters on the north west face of Troödos Mountains. There are no remains of the original monastery as it was burned down many times. from Wikipedia.

In the parking lot, one guard cat per car.

 

The entrance door hinted at what we would find inside,

rich paintings and

mosaics.

Into the initial cloister/courtyard and Chris bought tickets for us to go into the museum.

We were not permitted to take pictures inside the museum.

 The museum had one room of ancient (ie Bronze Age) pottery jars and pots in remarkable condition. Another room of icons painted on wood or walls and mostly of the Virgin and Child. Another of ancient illuminated manuscripts. The main room was full of historic religious symbols, tools and vestments. Crosses encrusted with jewels, robes woven with gold thread and delicate embroidery. The rooms themselves had inlay-ed marble floors and carved wooden vaulted ceilings. It was a display of the riches and history of the Monastery.

I saw only one monk, walking briskly across the courtyard.

We strolled

the various levels of

the two courtyards

identifying

Bible stories

depicted

in paint

or mosaic

that covered the walls and sometimes the ceilings too.

Though some completely

confounded us.

We went into the church but were not permitted to take photos.

The church had very few pews, maybe just enough for the monks. One wall was covered in painted icons with a dominance of gold. Elaborate chandeliers of gold/bronze/silver hung from the ceiling. I side chapel held sacred artifacts and relics. It was a bit creepy looking at beautiful silver boxes with pieces cut away to reveal a saints knuckle or a holy woman's teeth. The church was stating to fill with people here for a Sunday blessing. Earlier a monk had seen Cigi, smiled, tickled her tummy and then serious blessed both her and Christine.

After buying some honey we walked down the hill a short way to a restaurant and area with stalls selling locally grown nuts, some dipped in honey or made into nougat or Cypriot Delight. As part of my lunch I had Creme Caramel which Cigi loved and I had to share!

Every time a cat walked close it set of the robotic Santa singing Christmas songs.

More cats on the tour bus we followed out.

Jason:"I believe that's the road, down there, that we have to take"