Saint Neophytos monastery is situated in what used to be a secluded location at the head of a picturesque valley.
Saint Neophytos monastery is situated about 10 km north of Paphos near Tala village.
The monastery is built in what used to be a secluded location at the head of a picturesque valley.
The history of the Monastery of Agios Neofytos is well documented in the autobiography of its founder, the Cypriot hermit and writer Neofytos. Saint Neophytos founded the monastery in 1159. He lived there and died in 1219 at the age of 85.
The main church of the monastery was built around 200 years after his death and is devoted to Virgin Mary.
Interesting places for the visitor are the cave carved out of the mountain with the cell of St Neophytos known as the Egkleistra.
Agios Neophytos Monastery, Tala
In his cell are still preserved his rock-table and the rock platform on which he slept, as well as his grave. A famous painter, Theodoros Apsevdis, undertook frescoes in the Egkleistra.
At Saint Neophytos monastery one can also see Byzantine icons dating from the 12th to 15th centuries in the main church of exceptional art and also visit the museum of the monastery.
Every January the monastery hosts a two-day religious fair with Cypriot crafts, food and appropriately monastic goods for sale, while live music keeps shoppers entertained.
See our advice for visiting Cyprus monasteries.
See also our album of pictures of Tala including more pictures of Agios Neofytos Monastery.
Have you been? What did you like the most?
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