Monastery of Saint Minas
Feast day: November 11
The Monastery of saint Minas is an example of an enclosed complex with the katholikon (main church in Greek) occupying the centre of the courtyard, and its western part dividing the western wing. It is a single-aisled barrel-vaulted church of the 18th century, with its pointed arch, being of a relatively low height. It was rebuilt in 1754 according to the inscription located over the door, during the period of archpriesthood of Makarios, Metropolitan of Kition, at the site of a pre-existing church and monastery, attested in the 15th century. However, it is possible that it had already existed since the Byzantine period. Two four-column arcades were added later, probably in 1837, along the lateral sides. At the same time were also added the supporting buttresses that they no longer exist. The arcades with the exonarthex (between the western wall of the church and the western enclosure of the monastery) were covered by a single wooden roof, following the example of the churches of Troodos with the wooden roof. During the initial phase of 1754, the church must have been covered by simple tiles in mortar, as indicated by a point to the northwest. The dome of the apse preserves original Byzantine tiles, probably a remnant of the earlier Byzantine phase, incorporated in the 18th-century reconstruction. The katholikon of the Monastery houses an elaborate wood-carved iconostasis with icons of excellent quality, which originate from the icon-painting school of saint Herakleidios (mid-18th century). The three icons preserved in the church were painted by Philotheos: Akra Tapeinosis (Ecce homo), saint Georgios and saint Minas with eleven scenes of his martyrdom. The Monastery started functioning as a female community on 29 March 1965.
The Monastery today is inhabited by a female monastic community of 10 nuns, with sister Magdalini being the abbess. Outside the monastery are two chapels dedicated to saint Stylianos and saints Ignatios Theophoros and Georgios Tropaiophoros (Triumphant in Greek). The Monastery is a listed monument (Table B) and its feast day is on the 11th of November.