Stavrovouni Monastery, Second Pictorial Definitive Issue of the Republic of Cyprus, Republic of Cyprus

Stavrovouni Monastery, Second Pictorial Definitive Issue of the Republic of Cyprus, Republic of Cyprus

Postage stamps--Cyprus--History

Γραμματόσημα--Κύπρος--Ιστορία

Stavrovouni Monastery (referred to in earlier centuries as the Holy Mountain of the Cross) is perched on a hill 2260ft. above sea level and commands stunning views of the island as far as Larnaca bay. Circa 327 A.D. St. Helena, mother of Constantine the Great of Byzantium, returning from Jerusalem after discovering the crosses of Jesus and the two thieves, made a stop at Cyprus. Inspired by a dream she founded the monastery and deposited in the church the cross of Dysmas the good thief. History, intermingled with legend, relates that the drought and famine, which had plagued the island for thirty-six years, ended with the arrival of St. Helena. Felix Faber, a Dominican monk , visited Cyprus in 1840 and wrote: " We mounted our beasts and went on, having the Holy Mountain before our eyes and shuddering at its height. However at its foot we came across a delightful valley full of beautiful flowers unk nown to us, and fragrant shrubs. There were many trees full of carobs which the vulgar call St. Joh’s bread. (C.Cobham,Excerpta Cypria p.38)
After the Turkish invasion in 1570 A.D. the monastery remained deserted until the 17th century when
Orthodox monks occupied it. The monastery was entirely re-built in the 19th century.

Cyprus Post, Republic of Cyprus

Κυπριακά Ταχυδρομεία, Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία

Cyprus Post, Republic of Cyprus

Κυπριακά Ταχυδρομεία, Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία

Library of Cyprus University of Technology

Digital Heritage Research Lab of Cyprus University of Technology

21st November 1966

Designer: A. Tassos

Απαγορεύεται η δημοσίευση ή αναπαραγωγή, ηλεκτρονική ή άλλη χωρίς τη γραπτή συγκατάθεση του δημιουργού.

www.cypruspost.gov.cy

TIFF

EL, EN

Images

ORISTIKI-1966-3M

35.160417, 33.346556

Aspioti - Elka, Athens