Trooditissa Monastery in Cyprus

High in the Troodos Mountains, amid pine forests between Platres and Prodromos, stands the Monastery of Panagia Trooditissa. This is not simply a historic monastery: it is associated with legends about a pillar of fire and an icon hidden in a cave, a miraculous spring, a stone behind the icon of the Virgin Mary, and a belt to which women come with prayers for the birth of a child.

The history of Trooditissa is unusual also because the exact date of the monastery’s foundation is unknown. For this reason, it is especially important here to distinguish confirmed historical events from the legends that the monastery has preserved for centuries.

• When Trooditissa Monastery was founded
• The legend of the pillar of fire
• The mysterious light and the discovered icon
• Why the monastery was built in another location
• The Holy Cave of Trooditissa
• The Icon of the Virgin Mary of Trooditissa
• Why a stone is kept behind the icon
• The Trooditissa belt and prayers for the birth of a child
• The story of the stolen icon
• Fires and the restoration of the monastery
• What changed in the 20th century
• The monastery’s main feast
• Where the monastery is located
• What to know before visiting
• Frequently asked questions

When Trooditissa Monastery was founded

Tradition associates the beginnings of Trooditissa with the era of Byzantine Iconoclasm. According to legend, a monk brought the icon of the Virgin Mary to Cyprus from Asia Minor, saving it during the persecution of icons.

However, it is impossible to establish the monastery’s foundation date based on this account. The earliest known written evidence of Trooditissa dates back to 1541: the monastery’s name appears in a copy of an earlier manuscript.

Therefore, any claim that Trooditissa was founded in a specific year should be treated with caution. The monastery’s ancient origins are associated primarily with church tradition, while its written history can be traced only much later.

The legend of the pillar of fire

According to monastery tradition, the monk who brought the icon of the Virgin Mary to Cyprus initially stayed at the Monastery of Saint Nicholas of the Cat near Akrotiri. He spent about 25 years there, after which he decided to devote himself to a hermit’s life.

Legend says that the Virgin Mary appeared to him in a dream and told him to take the icon and follow it to wherever a pillar of fire appeared. The mysterious light led the monk into the Troodos Mountains.

He found a natural cave among the rocks northeast of the present-day monastery and settled there. It is believed that the hermit spent the rest of his life here in prayer.

The mysterious light in the mountains and the discovered icon

The story continues with another legend. At approximately around 990, a shepherd allegedly began noticing an unusual light among the rocks of Troodos at night.

He told other people about it. A group of local residents, together with a priest, went in search of the source of the light and discovered a cave. There was no one inside, but according to the legend, it contained an icon of the Virgin Mary and a lamp burning before it.

After this, it was decided to build a small church near the cave and move the icon there.

Why the monastery was built in another location

However, according to the legend, construction near the cave did not go smoothly. The terrain was rocky and steep, and water for the construction work had to be brought from far away. It is said that the water jugs constantly fell and broke.

One day, west of the cave, a jug filled with clean water was discovered. People began digging at that spot and found a spring, as well as a much more convenient site nearby.

Construction was moved there. Monks’ cells gradually appeared around the small church, and the monastery was then formed.

The Holy Cave of Trooditissa

The cave associated by tradition with the first hermit has survived. Moreover, it is connected not only with a legend but also with an interesting archaeological discovery.

On 14 February 1949, monks were enlarging the cave to make it more accessible to pilgrims. During the work, they discovered a burial containing the remains of two men and three 16th-century clay vessels.

The find confirms that the cave was indeed used by hermits in the past, although it does not in itself prove the early legend of the first monk and the icon. The vessels were transferred to the Cyprus Museum.

In 1972, the cave was restored, and a cenotaph was installed inside in memory of the two ascetics found there.

The main sacred object — the Icon of the Virgin Mary of Trooditissa

The monastery’s main sacred object is considered to be the venerated Icon of the Virgin Mary of Trooditissa. It is this icon that monastery tradition associates with the emergence of the monastery.

The icon is located in the church and covered with a silver revetment. Several miracle stories are associated with it, but one story is particularly unusual because of the object preserved directly behind the icon.

Why a stone is kept behind the icon

According to monastery tradition, a couple who had long been childless prayed to the Virgin Mary and promised that, if they had a son, they would give him to the monastery. The child was born and later ended up at Trooditissa.

Later, the parents decided to take their son back. The legend says that during the dispute taking place in the church, a large stone broke loose from the wall and flew towards the boy’s head.

At that moment, the icon of the Virgin Mary allegedly tilted and took the blow upon itself. The boy remained unharmed and later became a monk.

The stone was preserved and attached to the back of the icon. Thus, this legend has an unusual material detail that monastery tradition preserves together with the sacred object itself.

The Trooditissa belt and prayers for the birth of a child

Another well-known sacred object of the monastery is a belt associated with the tradition of prayers for the birth of children.

Its history dates back to the 19th century. According to monastery tradition, a woman who had long been childless prayed before the Icon of the Virgin Mary of Trooditissa. After giving birth, she presented the monastery, as a sign of gratitude, with the belt she had worn during her pregnancy.

Over time, a tradition arose of putting this belt on women who pray for the birth of a child. Female pilgrims from Cyprus and other countries come to the monastery for this purpose.

The monastery sets a specific condition for this ritual: if a woman wishes to wear the belt with a prayer for a child and have her name commemorated during the Divine Liturgy, she must be married in the church.

This tradition should be understood specifically in a religious context: it concerns the faith of pilgrims and monastery tradition, not a medical method of treating infertility.

The icon that was stolen and found months later

Another story is associated with the Trooditissa cave, part of which relates to documented events of the 20th century.

At one time, the cave housed a 16th-century icon known as Panagia Spilaiotissa. In the mid-20th century, it was replaced for preservation purposes by another icon — the image of the Virgin of the Angels, painted in 1954.

On 28 May 1961, this icon was stolen. Almost nine months later, on 24 February 1962, it was found abandoned among bushes nearby.

At this point, the factual part of the story gives way to legend: it is said that two workers were unable to lift the discovered icon from the ground, whereas their supervisor managed to do so. After it was found, the image was returned to the monastery.

Fires and the restoration of Trooditissa

Throughout its history, the monastery has suffered serious damage from fires on several occasions.

In 1585, the monastery was destroyed by fire. Monastery tradition says that afterward the icon of the Virgin Mary was found unharmed beneath an apple tree in the garden. Some other icons and relics were also considered to have survived.

The monastery was later restored, but at the end of 1842 the church burned down again. A forgotten candle is named as the cause in the monastery’s history. After the fire, construction began on a new three-aisled church.

There is a discrepancy in the dating of the existing church: tourist reference materials give the year 1731, whereas the history of the monastery itself associates the present three-aisled church with the restoration after the fire of 1842. Therefore, it is incorrect to date the entire modern church complex unequivocally to a single year.

What changed in the 20th century

An important stage in its modern history came in 1939. Trooditissa was transformed from an idiorhythmic monastery into a cenobitic monastery. To organize the new monastic life, monks from Stavrovouni Monastery were invited here.

Trooditissa remains an active men’s monastery. This is important to bear in mind when planning a trip: the monastery is primarily a place of monastic life and prayer, rather than an ordinary tourist attraction.

When is Trooditissa’s main feast?

The monastery celebrates 15 August — the Feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos. This is Trooditissa’s main patronal feast and traditionally one of the principal pilgrimage days at the monastery.

Where is Trooditissa Monastery located?

The monastery is located on the southern slopes of the Troodos mountain range, among pine forests between Platres and Prodromos, in the Limassol district. The road passes through mountainous terrain, so travel conditions may vary considerably depending on the season and weather.
Location
Phone: +357 25 421663.
Website: trooditissa.org.

What to know before visiting

Trooditissa is an active monastery with its own schedule of services and monastic life. The possibility of visiting certain parts of the complex and access times may change, so before making a special trip, it is best to confirm the current arrangements directly with the monastery.

Visitors should choose clothing appropriate for visiting an Orthodox monastery, observe silence, and bear in mind that not all areas are intended for tourist viewing.

If you are planning a route to see the main attractions of the Republic of Cyprus and want to travel without relying on taxis, it is convenient to compare car rental options in advance through Localrent. It is also worth planning basic practical matters in advance. Travel medical insurance can be arranged before departure, for example through Tripinsurance, while for navigation and communication on the road, it is convenient to activate a travel eSIM in advance, for example through Drimsim.

Frequently asked questions

When was Trooditissa Monastery founded?

The exact foundation date is unknown. Church tradition associates the monastery’s origins with the era of Iconoclasm, while the earliest known written evidence of the monastery dates back to 1541.

Why is Trooditissa known among women who wish to have children?

The monastery houses a venerated icon of the Virgin Mary and a belt associated with a religious tradition of prayers for the birth of a child. The belt was given to the monastery in the 19th century by a woman who, according to the legend, gave birth to a child after praying before the icon.

Is it true that there is a stone behind the icon?

Yes, monastery tradition associates the stone kept behind the icon with the legend of a boy’s rescue. The story itself about the miraculous movement of the icon belongs to religious tradition.

Has the first hermit’s cave survived?

The Trooditissa cave still exists and is venerated as a holy place. In 1949, the remains of two men and 16th-century ceramic vessels were discovered inside, indicating that the cave was used by hermits in the past.

Can the monastery be visited?

Trooditissa is an active men’s monastery, so visitor access differs from that of an ordinary tourist attraction. Before travelling, it is recommended to confirm the current opening hours and the possibility of visiting by calling the monastery.