Reliquaries from Kykkos Monastery, Christmas Issue Reliquaries, Republic of Cyprus

Reliquaries from Kykkos Monastery, Christmas Issue Reliquaries, Republic of Cyprus

Postage stamps--Cyprus--History

Γραμματόσημα--Κύπρος--Ιστορία

From the very early days of Christianity, Orthodox believers displayed a very special reverence to the relics of saints and martyrs. The Holy Cross had a permanent place among such relics and in the history of Cyprus one reads about Saint Helena who brought a piece of the Cross to Cyprus and had it deposited at Stavrovouni monastery. For safekeeping of such relics, reliquaries were made from a variety of materials ranging from wood to silver and gold. They were of ten decorated with cloisonné enamel and precious stones. The boxes of ten depicted scenes from the life or work of the saint whose relics are stored therein, or as seen on these Christmas stamps an illustration of the Virgin Mary and the infant Christ. The reliquaries pictured on these stamps date back to the 18th and 19th centuries and are housed at the sacristy of the Holy Monastery of Kykko.

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

27th November 1995

Designer: S. Karamallakis

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

www.cypruspost.gov.cy

TIFF

EL, EN

Image

1995-CHRISTMAS-20

35.160417, 33.346556

Oriental Press, Bahrain