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st neophytos

            Ayios Neophytos Monastery is said to have been founded by a Cypriot hermit and writer called Neophytos in the year 1159.  Neophytos carved a home for himself out of the mountain rock and it is here that you will find some of the finest frescoes from the Byzantine period dating from the 12th to the 15th century.  

Neophytos was known is his time as the leading critic of the Byzantine tax collectors and the great Richard the Lion Hearted. Today however, the same is not true.  Today Neophytos is known for the amazing series of grottoes that he carved out of the mountain rock and the religious frescoes that can be found within them.  Some of these frescoes were actually painted by Neophytos himself.

The Monastery is located below the grottoes and is home to only a handful of monks.  The Monastery also contains a collection of icons and the remains of some 16th century frescoes.  Every January the monastery hosts a two day fair where you can buy Cypriot crafts, foods, and monastic goods.  There is also live music too.

Located only 20 minutes from Paphos the first thing you will notice on arrival to Ayios Neophytos Monastery is cats.  There are around 30 cats that will meet you in the car park. The next thing you will notice are the spectacular views.  The site of Ayios Neophytos Monastery is 1694 feet high and the views over Paphos from here are amazing.  

There is a monastery and a series of caves with frescoes.  Neophytos is said to have lived for 45 years in one of the caves and you can actually go inside and view this.  His last five years were spent in a cave further up the rock face.  

Ayios Neophytos Monastery is the perfect location for those looking for peace and quiet and maybe some solitude and time to reflect on life.

Taken on: August 2, 2010

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Sets appears in: • Paphos • Cyprus

Groups appears in: • Cyprus • From Cyprus more » • Cultural Boxes • ±100 AШΑRĐZ for the «5000+» ♥Best♥ Photogs on Flickr!! • !*Flickr Award Group*! (GIVE 5 AWARDS) • Cyprus Places • All Around the World...Post 6 - Comment 3 • THE GLOBAL • Cypriot Photographers / Κύπριοι φωτογράφοι • love cyprus • No sin mi cámara // Not without my camera • Orthodoxy/Православие/Ορθοδοξία « less

Camera: Sony DSLR-A350, f/8.0, 1/250 sec, 17mm, ISO 400 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Sony DSLR-A350
Aperture:	f/8.0
Exposure Time:	0.004 sec (1/250)
Focal Length:	17mm
ISO:	400
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Aperture-priority AE
Metering Mode:	Center-weighted average
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop CS2 Windows
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