THE MONASTERY OF THE VIRGIN MARY SFALANGIOTISSA

AN EASY RELAXING ESCAPE

A MONASTERY FOR NUNS NEAR LIMASSOL

Lying approximately 6 km east of the City of Limassol, in the hills north of the village of Agios Athanasios, is the monastery of the Virgin Mary Sfalangiotissa. Tracing its origins all the way back to the 11th century, this historic monastery for women has endured numerous acts of destruction over the ages. Falling into a state of disrepair and neglect by the early part of the 20th century, it was eventually restored in 1977.

THE HEALING ICON OF THE VIRGIN MARY

The monastery’s name is thought to have derived from two unique factors. It adopted the first part of its name from the icon of the Holy Virgin Mary, which it housed. This icon was especially noted for its numerous miraculous healings. The second part of its name comes from the Sfalangi, which were a type of rare venomous insect. These unwelcome insects once inhabited the immediate area surrounding the monastery during ancient times. Their bite could sometimes be fatal, and afflicted people would often travel on to the monastery to receive respite.

A STUNNING PHOTO OPPORTUNITY

The monastery today offers a relaxing, easy escape for all visitors. This includes a stunning photo opportunity from the monastery’s observation deck that allows for breathtaking elevated views of the immediate area surrounding the monastery. There is also an on-site bakery that allows visitors to purchase freshly baked monastery bread. Olive oil and farm-fresh eggs, from the surrounding area, are also available for purchase. The monastery’s on-site workshop also allows visitors to commission church vestments, iconostases, and even a personalised icon. Special services, including commemorations, liturgies, forty-day prayers for Lent, annual memorials, and supplications to the Virgin Mary, are also regularly performed by the clergy of the monastery.

HISTORY & MEANING

Origins: Evidence suggests that the monastery originally functioned as a men’s monastery.

Legend: Sfalangiotissa comes from a traditional legend about a monk or locals healed from the painful, potentially fatal sting of a venomous insect called sfalanggi after praying to the Virgin Mary’s icon.

Restoration: After being abandoned for decades, the monastery was re-established in 1977 as a women’s monastery by nuns relocating from the Agios Georgios tou Alamanou monastery.