Agios Neofytos Monastery
Pafos (Paphos), Cyprus
At a glance
You can found Agios Neophytos Monastery 9 kms north Paphos town. Founded at the end of the 12th century by Agios (Saint) Neophytos a Cypriot hermit who searched for the ideal place to settle and isolate himself from people.
The first cave he created was called the 'Egkleistra', an enclosure carved out of the mountain which contains some of the finest Byzantine frescoes dating from the 12th to 15th century. Agios Neophytos lived, wrote books and hymns in the 'Egleistra' and preached to his followers who used to gather below.
The monastery is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and houses some of the most beautiful icons of the post-Byzantine period of the 16th century and incorporates a very interesting ecclesiastical museum. Agios Neofytos's bones are kept in the monastery in a wooden sacrophagus, with his shull in a silver reliquary.
Opening time:
April - October Daily 9:00 am - 12:00 pm, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
November - March Daily 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
