Monastery of Saint Thekla
Feast day: September 24
The katholikon (main church in Greek) of the Monastery of saint Thekla is a simple single-aisled vaulted church, with a slightly pointed arch, located at the southern part of the courtyard of the small Π-shaped monastic establishment. Along the northern side there is a portico. According to the foundation inscription, located above the northern entrance, it was rebuilt in 1744, and was inaugurated together with the annexes in 1745, during the period of archpriesthood of Archbishop Philotheos. The donors mentioned are pious Flouris and hieromonk Christodoulos. The same donor, Flouris, together with his wife Laourou, are mentioned by the inscription on the iconostasis as the persons who have paid in 1748 for the iconostasis and the icons, which were painted by hieromonk Filaretos, member of the monastic community of Saint Herakleidios and icon painter of the homonymous hagiographic school.
A special feature of the katholikon is its original ceramic tile work, placed directly on the mortar, imitating the ceramic tile work that was popular during the period of construction of the wooden-roofed churches of Troodos mountain. The ornate silver cover of the icon of saint Thekla includes six scenes from her life. The silver cover of the icon was manufactured in 1867 by oikonomos Ioannikios. A church dedicated to saint Georgios was erected near the outer entrance of the courtyard. The Monastery today is inhabited by a female monastic community of 10 nuns, with sister Constantia being the abbess. The Monastery of saint Thekla is a listed monument (Table B) and is one of the most important pilgrimage sites of Cyprus. Its feast day is on the 24th of September.