Apostolos Andreas Monastery

"The monastery is down a long coastal road, with nothing else as you drive but some hotels and lovely beaches. The monastery is in the process of renovation and has some stunning views. The main church is complete and rather vivid and bright with lots of gold. The chandeliers are beautiful as are the lovely wooden seats. Behind the altar area are very nice pictures set in gold. The pulpits are ornate wooden carved with paintings. Their are information boards outside telling you about the renovations. It is worth the drive to visit. Entrance is by donation and their is plenty of free parking. The area has lots of expensive markets stalls, paid for toilets and buses full visiting. You pass the wild donkeys. Buy some carrots and cucumber as they stand in road and wont move until you feed them."

Sheila Brooks

"Great and quite place!!! After long drive from Keryneia
Worth the drive to see all those friendly donkeys and to feed them right on the entrance of the Monastery!!!!
On the way to the monastery be carefully on the road!! Have a good car!!
Give a visit to the golden beach about 3-5km from the monastery"

ILLIA BYTSIURA

"This place is one of a kind and although it’s close to 2000 years, looks amazingly in mint condition. Once has been a home to one of the Jesus’s deciple Andreas. . (AKA StAndrew)It is named after St Andrew, who was a follower of John the Baptist, and was the first to be called by Jesus Christ to spread Christianity. It is a place of reverence by both Turkish and Greek Cypriots.

It is thought that there has been a monastery here since Byzantine times, and is possibly the location of the surrender of Isaac Commenos to Richard the Lionheart in 1191, although no trace of any structure .
The monastery was supposedly founded here, as during a journey to Palestine, the ship which was transporting Andrew went off course and struck the rocks here. On coming ashore, Andrew struck the rocks with his staff, at which point a spring gushed forth. The waters proved to have healing powers, and restored the sight of the ship's captain who had been blind in one eye. Thereafter, the site became a place of pilgrimage, and in the 15th century, a small chapel was built close to the shore, where to this day, you can still collect the healing water. The church of the main monastery dates to the 18th century, while the main buildings are 100 years younger.

Mass pilgrimage, however, is only comparatively recent, dating back to the early years of the 20th century. The story is told that in 1895, the son of Maria Georgiou was kidnapped. Seventeen years later, the Apostle appeared to her in a dream, telling her to pray for her son's return at the monastery. Living in Anatolia, she embarked on the crossing to Cyprus on a very crowded boat. Telling her story during the journey, one of the passengers, a young Dervish priest became more and more interested. Asking if her son had any distinguishing marks, and on hearing of a pair of birthmarks, he stripped off his cloths to reveal the same marks, and mother and son were reunited.

After 1974, most of the Greek Cypriots in the area moved to the south, although a few remained in Dipkarpaz. For 30 years, very few pilgrims visited the monastery, but with the opening of the crossing points, this flow is now increasing.

On your arrival, you will park in a courtyard, surrounded by cloisters where the pilgrims once stayed. Looking towards the sea, you will see the bell tower of the church. here you will find some icons, and normally some nuns or a retired priest acting as caretakers. Further down the slope you will reach the oldest part of the monastery and the holy well.

On two days of the year, the monastery becomes very busy; August the 15th (Assumption Day), and the 30th November, which is St Andrew's saints day. (Andrew is not only the patron saint of Scotland, but of Greece, Cyprus and Russia.)it is a must to see🙏🏻"

IPEK ULKUCU