Restoration of frescoes and iconostasis completed at Saint Barnabas monastery in Famagusta

Famagusta, Cyprus. Restoration of the frescoes and the ornate carved iconostasis at the Saint Barnabas monastery in Engomi has been completed, according to Sotos Ktoris, who heads the bicommunal committee on cultural heritage. He added that the monastery’s roof has also been repaired.

Project details

The renovation was co-funded by the EU and carried out under the supervision of UNDP. Ktoris said the frescoes were painted in the 20th century by three monks from the village of Afania: Chariton, Stephanos and Barnabas.

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Saint Barnabas

Saint Barnabas is regarded as the founder and patron of the Church of Cyprus. He was born in Cyprus to Jewish parents and went to Jerusalem to study. The Church of Cyprus says he was known for his missionary and charitable work and was directly linked to the spread of Christianity on the island.

He was persecuted by Jews and died a martyr’s death by stoning in the city of Salamis around 57AD. His body was placed on a pyre and, according to tradition, remained intact.

The relics and the tomb

Archbishop Anthemios found the relics of Barnabas at the end of the 5th century, together with the handwritten gospel of the evangelist Matthew.

Roughly a hundred metres east of the church lies a carved tomb from the Roman period, which is considered to be the burial place of Saint Barnabas. A vaulted building was erected over the tomb in the 18th century but later fell into ruin.

Chapel and pilgrimage

In 1964 the three monks built a chapel on the site of the ruins. The church remained a place of pilgrimage until 1974.