Surrounded by vibrant greenery, the Monastery of Our Lady of Chrysoroiatissa is located in the western part of the Troodos Mountains just 25 kilometres from Paphos. It is believed that its founder was the monk Ignatius, who found a miraculous icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary on the coast of Paphos. It was allegedly thrown into the sea in Asia Minor back in the IX century, during the iconoclastic period. By the will of Providence, the face of the saint was not lost or corrupted - the waves arrived to the coast of Cyprus completely unharmed. It was for the storage of this icon in 1152 in the mountains at an altitude of more than 700 metres that the monastery of Chrysoroyatissa was erected, the name of which translates as "Our Lady of the Golden Pomegranate".
But in the form in which we see the monastery today, it appeared only during the Turkish rule in 1770. And at the end of the XVIII century, a large-scale reconstruction was carried out in this place. In place of the old church, located right in the centre of the monastery grounds, a new one was built, the three entrances of which are decorated with elegant frescoes.
The greatest treasures of Chrysoroiatissa are two icons in silver and gold settings: the already mentioned icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary and an icon of Jesus Christ. Both are believed to have been painted by the Apostle Luke himself.
Apart from its beauty and the rich collection of icons and valuables in the newly established Chrysoroiatissa Museum, the monastery is also famous for its fine wine, which is produced in the local winery and is considered one of the best on the island. In addition, every year on the 15th of August, the monastery holds a temple festival, during which a solemn and lavish service is held.
