THE ARMENIAN MONASTERY OF SOURP MAGAR (SAINT MAKARIOS) IN HALEVGA, PENTADHAKTYLOS

#fypシ #cyprus #drone #mountains
THE ARMENIAN MONASTERY OF SOURP MAGAR
(SAINT MAKARIOS) IN HALEVGA, PENTADHAKTYLOS
The Armenian Monastery of Sourp Magar (Saint
Makarios), also known as Armenomonastiro or
Magaravank, is situated in a picturesque location within East Plataniotissa forest, about 1½ Km to the west of Turkish-occupied Halevga, at an altitude of 530 m.Its vast lands (nearly 8,500 donums or 11.37 Km²,extending up to the seashore) include about 30,000olive and carob trees, whose exploitation constituted themain source of income for the Armenian Prelature ofCyprus until the 1974 Turkish invasion. From the idyllicsite of the monastery, one can gaze at the Taurus mountain range in Cilicia, especially during thewinter, when humidity is low and the peaks are covered in snow.
The monastery was originally established by the Copts around the year 1000AD in memory of Saint Makarios the Hermit of Alexandria (306-395), who -
according to tradition - had spent some time in the caves of the region asan ascetic? his icon was considered to be miraculous and the residents of
the area believed they could hear the Saint galloping with his horse atnight! Saint Makarios the Hermit's memory was celebrated the first Sunday of May, although the monastery equally celebrated the memory ofSaint Makarios the Elder of Egypt (300-391) in December.
By 1425, the monastery had come to the possession of the Armenians Apostolic Orthodox Church. Throughout the Frankish and the Venetian
Eras (1192-1489-1570), its monks were known for following very strictrules of ascetic life, religious penance and austere diet, and no females
(including animals) were allowed near the monastery.
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