The Holy Monastery of St. John Lampadistis

Lampadistis, the Saint of three churches

Written by Philip Stylianou

"Cyprus is often referred to as the island of saints, having since the advent of Christianity attracted many locals and strangers to seek God in the seclusion of it mountains and steep rocks. The youngest of them all is probably Agios loannis Lampadistis – St. John of Lampadis who, since the 10th century, has been venerated m a monastery bearing his name in the Marathasa valley, by the village of Kablanayiotis. His is one of the first Byzantine churches in Cyprus to be put on the Unesco list of protected World Heritage monuments. In fact, it is not one church but three, spanning many centuries of the island's religious history and art, all richly decorated with perfectly preserved frescoes, old icons and other pious relies.

Having three churches under one roof is unique for Cyprus, as is the rectangular courtyard paved with the same local stone used to build the churches and the monastery. Although the monastery has long ceased to function, the monks' cells and auxiliary buildings, including a stone oil-press, survive intact.

 The only modern feature, though hardly distinguishable from the ancient complex, is the iconofylakio, an icon museum, built just outside the south eastern side of the monastery with a generous donation from the late benefactor Constantinos Leventis. It houses a treasure of Byzantine icons and other religious objects which were thought too precious to leave in surrounding unattended chapels.

The churches

Agios Herakleidios was the island's very first prelate, also from Lampadis, who followed the Apostles Paul, Mark and Barnabas (the latter was the founder of the Cyprus church) when they were journeying through the Troodos Mountains during their visit here in 45 A.D. The church was built in the early 10th century to commemorate Agios Herakleidios’ baptism here, in addition to another one at Politiko, his place of martyrdom near ancient Tamassos.

The many miracles soon earned John a reputation as a saint. One day, as Papa-Kynakos was standing close to his son's remains in St. Herakleidios' church, he heard a voice telling him to build a church dedicated to John. The priest wasted no time and, in the late 10th century the Church of St. John Lampadistis went up adjacent to that of St. Herakleidios. The miracles attributed to St. John Lampadistis were so frequent and so impressive, that the inhabitants of the area soon came to regard him as their guardian saint.

The third church on the site was added much later, in the 14th century. Unlike the other two which each feature a unique altar screen, this one had none. This was due to the fact that it was not built as an Orthodox church, but as a Latin chapel by the Frankish rulers of the island in their drive to westernize the religious dogma of the Cypriots. The chapel was later dedicated to the Virgin Mary, with a 14th century copy of her famous icon that can be found in the Kykko Monastery.

Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/5EbXWzu6C8h9VeuM6