Monastery of Agios Neophytos
Monastery of Agios Neophytos features on the Gingerguide audio walk through Paphos. Give it roughly ~60 min: enough to look, hear a two to three minute story on the spot, and ask the AI guide whatever the story leaves open.
- Type religious
- Suggested visit ~60 min
- Paphos Paphos guide
About Monastery of Agios Neophytos
A monastery in the hills north of Paphos founded by a twelfth-century hermit who carved his cave retreat from the rock and had it painted with exquisite Byzantine frescoes, beside a later church and museum.
The Monastery of Agios Neophytos lies in the hills about ten kilometres north of Paphos. It was founded in the twelfth century by Neophytos, a hermit and writer born in 1134, who in 1159 climbed to a cave above the city and carved it by hand into a hermitage of three rock-cut chambers, the Enkleistra, the 'place of seclusion'. He even dug his own grave in the rock and kept a coffin ready.
The Enkleistra is painted with superb Byzantine frescoes, signed by the painter Theodoros Apsevdis and dated 1183, in which the saint himself appears. Nearby stand the later monastery church and a museum of icons, manuscripts and vestments. Neophytos was also a notable writer, whose account of the Third Crusade and Richard the Lionheart's seizure of Cyprus is a rare Greek source for those events.
Did you know? The monastery was founded by the hermit Neophytos, born in 1134, who from 1159 carved his hermitage, the Enkleistra, by hand from the rock, and dug his own grave in it.
How long is a visit to Monastery of Agios Neophytos?
Set aside roughly ~60 min for Monastery of Agios Neophytos. That covers a good look and the narrated story, and because you set the pace you can always stay on.
Is Monastery of Agios Neophytos worth your time?
Monastery of Agios Neophytos is among the 13 narrated highlights the Gingerguide team chose for Paphos, so it is worth a look. Hear the story for the context, then ask the AI guide for anything more.
Nearby stops in Paphos
Day 2 of the Paphos in 2 days itinerary →
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Hear the story of Monastery of Agios Neophytos
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