| The Holy, Royal and Stavropegic Monastery of | | | | by it has been burnt down several times, so it is a |
| Kykkos is said to be the richest and most exuberant | | | | monastery that looks modern. Some people would feel |
| of all monasteries in Cyprus. It is based in the region of | | | | that the monastery's museum would be similar to |
| Marathasa, situated on a mountain peak, at an altitude | | | | modern museums but they are wrong. As they say |
| of 1318 metres north west of Troodos. | | | | themselves it is not a museum that is completely |
| Founded between the end of the 11th century and the | | | | separate from the functional space of the items it |
| beginning of the 12th century, by Byzantine emperor | | | | exhibits and neither is it a museum that contains |
| Alexios I Komnenos (1081 - 1118AD). A Cypriot Hermit | | | | exhibits only on the strength of their artistic value as |
| Isaiah cured his daughter from an incurable illness, so | | | | are the museums of ancient Greek art. It is a museum |
| as an award the emperor sent his precious treasure | | | | situated inside the monastery itself and like its treasury |
| the icon of the Theotokos to Cyprus and constructed | | | | it forms an integral part of it. Its exhibits such as icons, |
| the Monastery, as a place where the relic would be | | | | holy objects, woodcarvings, vestments, embroideries, |
| kept. The hermit also got the emperor to send a | | | | manuscripts etc., are exhibited as part of the living |
| representative to get the monastery and three villages | | | | adoration and the history of the monastery. Although it |
| endowed. The first president of Cyprus, Arch bishop | | | | still follows all the specifications of a modern museum, |
| Makarios III who served as a novice monk at the | | | | the museum does feature several items that have |
| monastery, became fond of the place and he returned | | | | survived the numerous destructions that the |
| several times after. He loved the place so much that | | | | monastery has faced. |
| he requested he'd be buried there and he was at the | | | | They usually hold two religious fairs on September 8th |
| summit of Throni. | | | | which is the Birth of the Virgin and another one at |
| The location of the monastery is in Marathasa Valley, | | | | August 15th that is the Dormition of the Virgin. The |
| which is an area that is located that takes up the | | | | Monastery produces Zivania and various other |
| northern slopes of the mountain range. It is a very | | | | alcoholic drinks. Zivania is a traditional Cypriot |
| fertile area in which the Marathos plant grows, which is | | | | beverage, made from pomace. The grape skins, |
| where it got its name from. Cherries also grow in this | | | | stems and seeds are press during a wine making |
| area as well and are said to be the best in Cyprus and | | | | process then are mixed with high quality dry wines |
| when the cherry blossoms in Spring it is a sight for | | | | which are produced by the local grape varieties of |
| sore eyes so it boasts some of the most luckiest villas | | | | Cyprus (but in Kykkos case in house) The mixture is |
| in Cyprus as you would have a great scenery and | | | | then distilled in a special distillation apparatus which |
| snack nearby. | | | | produces the Zivania. The drink is a colourless and |
| The Monastery unfortunately doesn't have any | | | | very alcoholic with an aroma of raisins. |
| remains of the original structure, as years have gone | | | | |