House upon a hill

Took a short drive outside of Nicosia to the Stavrovouni Monastery. It was a scenic area and the monastery is perched on top of the summit of a small mountain. Women are not allowed on the actual monastery grounds. Demetris would not have been allowed in either because he was wearing shorts. Since we didn't think it would be a good idea to send the kids in alone, we all stayed outside the gate. We did encounter four monks in the outside area so maybe they aren't as secluded as their rules suggest. I wandered into the bookstore (think gift shop but with religious items) and the monk working there spoke to me in Greek. Once I replied that I don't speak Greek he began to talk to me in perfect English. He asked where I was from and then pulled out a map of the United States to locate Boston and Illinois. We bought pictures of the saints bearing our kids names at the store and a little wood carved cross necklace for me.

The cross gate is as close as we could go

The Church of all Saints of Cyprus, across from the gate

The monastery

Outside the Church of all Saints

Mosaic at the entrance gate

Must not have been too easy to build

With her picture of St. Sofia

With St. Giorgos