Page 81 - Erasmus Let's be Eco-sustainAble, towards 2030 Dissemination Activity book

Activity: Filming, Exploring, Documenting the Holy Cross (Timios Stavros) Monastery

The ornament and true pride & joy of Omodos is the Monastery of the Holy and Life-giving Cross, built at

the heart of the community. It rises majestically and with its imposing presence it becomes a significant part

of Cyprus's cultural heritage. The Monastery of the Holy Cross is one of the oldest and most historic

monasteries of the island. The Monastery's architecture is characteristic. It is a huge, two-levels complex in

the shape of (the Greek letter) Π that encircles the church in the north, west, and south with its tall cells and

the vaulted arches. One can enter the yard through a vaulted entrance, the so-called "kamaroporta" (arched

door), which is found in the north side. Tradition reports that the arched door, which resembles that of a

fortress, with its heavy, double crossbars, would not open when Turks who intended to harm the monastery

would arrive. The west entrance that today exists in the part of the plaza was opened recently. The complex

is consisted of many stone-made cells, cellars, and hostels/hospices. The lace-like balusters under the arches

of the roofed verandas, in the interior side of the constructions, have a very picturesque quality. In the

fenced yard a marble-made fountain refreshes the visitors. Upon a plate, dating back to 1763, the words

"come to me you that are thirsty, like Siloam the fountain I will also quench your thirst" are inscribed. The

large temple with three aisles of the Monastery, which is of the Basilica type, is built -according to local

tradition -precisely above the cave where the holy Cross was found.

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