Some views of the monastery of Ayia Napa in Cyprus

The Ayia Napa monastery is located in the very centre of the town. The name "Ayia Napa" comes from "Icon of Virgin Mary of the forest", and means Holy Forest after an icon of the virgin Mary was found by a hunter in a cave in the woods here. The hunter’s dog was first to see the glowing icon and began barking calling over his master. Many believers heard about the icon and started visiting the cave to see the icon and it became a holy place. The icon is believed to have been put in the cave during the 7th-8th century during the period of iconoclasm when religious images were destroyed.
It is not known exactly when the monastery was built but the church around the cave where the icon was found was built in the 14th century. There is evidence of a Christian community here from the Byzantine era so Ayia Napa got it's name before the year 1366.
The monastery as it is today was built in the 15th century with the cave church at it's centre. It was built by the Venetians who were the rulers of Cyprus at that time. One local legend tells that the stubborn daughter of a Venetian noble wanted to marry a man below her station which her father would not allow. It is said she took refuge in the cave church around the year 1500 and as she could not marry, she built the church, the cells and a monastery out of her own expenses. Gradually the site was expanded to include a women's convent, a Roman chapel and a flourmill. The giant Sycamore tree which stands outside the Monastery gate is said to also have been planted by this Venetian woman.