Karsiyaka Monastery Does anyone know the History ?

Lakelandlady


Joined: 15/11/2009
Posts: 6

Message Posted:
16/11/2009 13:21

Just walked up to the monastery for the first time, been promising myself for five years, anyhow does anyone have any information about it would love to know more. Perhaps D C has some input. Thanks.

Dusterbruce


Joined: 03/08/2007
Posts: 1125

Message Posted:
16/11/2009 14:23

If you google Vasilia (the Greek name for the village) there is info there.

ianwfs


Joined: 08/01/2008
Posts: 563

Message Posted:
16/11/2009 15:55

Very little is known about the monastery of Sinai, but it was clearly extensive.

If you look above the main door, you can see the remains of a Byzantine two-headed eagle. The monastery was already derelict when Kitchener did his survey of Cyprus in 1882.

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
16/11/2009 17:22

Lakelandlady: I've checked several (of the usual) sources for you: 1: Cornelis de Bruyn or Corneille le Bruyn, 1683 (unfortunately the Dutchman De Bruyn is called a Danish (!) traveller on a site of the UN in Cyprus ("The shrine of Hala Sultan Tekke"). 2: Richard Pococke (1704-1765), a traveling Englishman from Southampton. 3: Enlart, 1899 (a Frenchman with a famous knowledge of Cyprus, no further introduction needed, I hope and think, errm...). 4: Jeffery (1918), an Englishman (we should honour him for ever for all the conservation work he did on medieval remains in Cyprus).

The first bad news is that there were or still may be two (ruined) monasteries in the area - so tell me as exactly as possible which one you visited. The second bad news is that there is not much known about both ruins (as ianwfs already mentioned in msg 3), but I found more than ianwfs wrote.

P.S. I'll upload some old maps from the area also - even an Ottoman map.

(to be continued)

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
16/11/2009 18:42

(continued from msg 4)



(Situation in 1918) - Vasilia (sometimes Vesilya and other spellings; Turkish name: Karşiyaka) - Picturesque village dependent on Sina Monastery. Church modern and uninteresting. Also small modern chapel on west side of hamlet. One of these churches is dedicated to St. Constantine, the other to St. Helena.



(Situation in 1918) - Sina Monastery - This is the property of the Archbishop of Mt. Sinai in Arabia. Repeatedly rebuilt and "restored." During the last "restoration " in 1904 all trace of antiquity about the chapel was almost obliterated. The curious method of its construction has however been retained.



The chapel has been a simple nave ending in an apse, covered by a low pitched tile roof supported on arches carrying purlins (similar to many Eastern bazaar roofs). To conceal the construction, each bay between the arches is filled in with a ceiling of thin boarding bent to the same outline as the arches.



(to be continued)

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
16/11/2009 18:43

(continued from msg 5)

The stone arches are visible, and the whole forms a very pleasing and unusual treatment of a church interior.



Architectural details such as the west doorway and some other fragments have been re-used in the restored building. They are of the XVIlIth century. The buildings of the monastery are irregular and uninteresting. A large number of small granite columns litter the site and suggest the presence of an important building in former times, an idea borne out by the name of the "Vasilia," or Royal monastery, of Sinai.



(Situation in 1918) - Krinia Sinaitikco Monastery (ruin) - A completely ruined Byzantine monastery situated in a gorge of the mountains, at a great height above sea level, where a path crosses over from Lapithos (Lapta) to Larnaca-tis-Lapithou (Kozan). The church retains its vaulting over the west end, and a portion of the central cupola, elsewhere it has fallen. At the west end is a curious narthex.

(to be continued)

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
16/11/2009 19:06

(continued from msg 6)

This is how Captain (later Lord) H.H. Kitchener mapped the area between 1878-1882: http://is.gd/4Wove

(to be continued with more history about the ruined monasteries in the area and maps)

Lakelandlady


Joined: 15/11/2009
Posts: 6

Message Posted:
18/11/2009 15:20

Thanks alot D C very interesting.

TopTen


Joined: 15/04/2009
Posts: 1246

Message Posted:
29/11/2010 17:02

We have visited the Krinia Sinaitikco Monastery (ruin) in the mountains at Karsiyaka, again today. Is there anywhere we can find out more about it's origins.



TT's Lizzie, Lakelandlady & Decanddil

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
29/11/2010 19:57

Lizzie if anyone can tell you it has to be our own DC. What he dosent know about this place. He has amazing knowledge. What you lot on a keep fit mission xxxx

Mountain Edge



Joined: 23/02/2007
Posts: 199

Message Posted:
29/11/2010 20:29

Just out of interest, how long did it take to walk up?

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
29/11/2010 20:57

RE msg 7: I'm sorry but the link to the map was broken some time ago. I have to clear my server once in a while an then I remove old(er) pictures, maps and other graphics. If their is any interest I'll upload a new map.

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
29/11/2010 21:05

▶ With a bit of luck I managed to make the link in msg 7 work again.

decanddyl


Joined: 17/01/2009
Posts: 792

Message Posted:
30/11/2010 01:34

The map would be most appreciated DC thanks for your help and information.



Yes Lilli on a get fit mission a good long walk at least once a week.



I can't actually say how long the walk took after at least one wander in the wrong direction !! then retracing our steps before carrying on until we reached the monastery we then had a good look around and investigated the surrounding area before starting the downward walk.

All in all we were on the road for about 3 hours starting and finishing at the bottom of the Olive oil factory road Karsiyaka.



Cathy.

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
30/11/2010 03:31

cathy im impressedxxxx wish i had your stamina