Description of the attraction
One of the most important surviving Orthodox shrines in the Turkish part of Cyprus - the Monastery of St. Mamas - was built in honor of the hermit Cypriot Mamas, who is better known in our country as Mamant the Shepherd. Mamas lived in the 12th century and was involved in breeding goats and growing grapes. As the legend says, the Roman governor who ruled Cyprus at that time accused the hermit of non-payment of taxes and taxes and sent soldiers after him, who were supposed to bring the “criminal” to the governor. However, when the soldiers were leading Mamas into the city, they were suddenly attacked by a lion that jumped out of the forest. In fear, the soldiers fled, only the prisoner was not frightened and, riding on a lion, rode it directly to the Roman governor. He was so impressed by this that he forgave Mamas and even freed him from paying all taxes. It is since then that Mamas is considered the patron saint of animals, as well as, funny, tax evaders.
In the city of Morfou, a monastery in honor of the saint was built in the 18th century. It is in this temple in the marble sarcophagus that the remains of Mamas are kept. People believe that the balm emanating from the holes in this sarcophagus helps with diseases of the eyes and ears, and can even calm the raging sea.
Initially, the temple was built in the Byzantine style, but after that it was rebuilt many times, elements of the Gothic began to be seen in it. A large central dome was also added much later. The monastery houses many icons of St. Mamas, in which he is traditionally depicted as a young shepherd sitting on a huge lion, holding a lamb in his arms.
