St Barnabas Monastery.
St. Barnabas Manastırı · Gazimağusa
Tier II · Worth a detour
The monastery of the island's patron saint, now an icon and archaeology museum.
What to see at St Barnabas Monastery
- The west front has a triple round-arched window and a rose window of pierced-disc tracery above the marble-framed door.
- Two domes on drums rise over the nave, and a free-standing square bell tower stands at the north-west corner.
- The church now holds the icon museum; the former monastery rooms around the stone-paved courtyard hold an archaeological collection from the Famagusta region.
- A large circular stone basin stands in the courtyard in front of the west door.
History of St Barnabas Monastery
- AD 45
- Barnabas, born in Salamis, begins spreading Christianity across the island with Paul.
- 477
- By the traditional account, his grave is found after 432 years and a monastery is built there.
- 1756
- The monastery takes its present form under Archbishop Philotheos.
- 1976–92
- After the last monks leave in 1976, restoration begins in 1991: the church becomes an icon museum in 1992, the monastery rooms an archaeology museum.
Visiting St Barnabas Monastery
Allow about an hour. The monastery stands at the west end of the Salamis necropolis, close to the Royal Tombs. It lies near Tuzla, about 7.8 km north-west of Gazimağusa; a car park is mapped about 50 m away, and no bus stop within about 500 m.
About the St Barnabas Monastery 3D model
Our 3D model shows the church as it stands, built from photographs and a mapped outline. The west front is the best recorded; the east end and the height of the east dome carry the widest margin.
Monuments near St Barnabas Monastery
- Royal Tombs of SalamisThe chariot burials of the kings of Salamis.
- EnkomiA Bronze Age copper-trading city.
- SalamisThe great classical city of the island, by the sea.