Thank goodness for four-wheel drive and a good stick shift. Originally the site of a pagan temple, Stavrovouni sits on the summit of one of the highest cliffs of Cyprus. On a clear day, one can see the entire coast of Larnaka & the faint line of Lebanon on the horizon.
Unfortunately for me, this monastery is strict - only allowing men through its gates. So, I had to content myself with the fabulous gift shop and chapel of Agil Konstantinos and Eleni which are seperate from the site.
The monastery is significant for its frescoes - by the famous ecclesiastical painter Kallinikos - and for its holy origin. Agia Eleni, the mother of Constantine the Great, returning from the Holy Lands was forced to take refuge on the island during a storm. She had a dream and was commanded by an angel to build the monastery and keep a piece of the Holy Cross safe within its walls. Although under siege, plundered and burned many times, Stavrovouni successfully protects the relic as well as a nail used in the crucifixion of Christ.
