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| The Abbot and the fathers of the Holy, Royal and Stavropegiac Monastery of Kykkos in their desire to contribute to the spiritual and cultural life of the people as well as to the preservation, study and exhibition of works of art, which are works of peace and civilization that were created far from the fiends of battle and which the venerable Monastery of the Virgin of Kykkos has kept securely during the nine hundred years of its history, decided to establish this new temple of history, the Museum of the Holy Monastery of Kykkos. | |
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1. Antiquities
2. Early Christian, Byzantine, post-byzantine vessels, vestments, ornaments 3. Icons, frescoes, woodcarvings 4. Manuscripts, documents, books 5. Deed |
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The area of the exhibition, besides the technical specifications that it should follow, was conceived by the Abbot as a richly
decorated space so as to reflect the magnificence and majesty of the Byzantine empire; to reflect also the term ''royal', that is
contained in the official title of the monastery and which binds it directly to the imperial palace of Constantinople from where the
monastery derives its foundation and endowment since its founder was the Byzantine Emperor Alexios Komnenos (1081-1118).
With these guidelines the work was entrusted to the architects J. and A. Philippou. The floors of the Museum have been covered
with multi-coloured granite and marble while the roofs were covered with walnut tree wood and enriched with woodcarved decorations
and gilding. Partial placing of marble with iconic and symbolic themes, stone-carvings and frescoes add to the decorative effect.
The whole space of the exhibition with the various materials, the appropriate lighting, the accompaniment of soft byzantine music and
of course the rare or unique exhibits most of which are made of precious materials such as gold, silver, enamel, ivory, silk, purple robes,
pearls and other precious stones helps the visitor's mind to be transferred to old times and to recreate in his thought the glory and
majesty of Hellenism and the Orthodox faith.
The Museum lies on the north-western side of the old building of the Monastery. The entrance to the Museum lies in the northern side of the large inner court of the Monastery. From an arched entrance which closes with an imposing four-flap door, a staircase leads the visitor to the reception hall of the Museum where, in a specially designed area on one side, lies the shop of the Museum. There, the visitor can buy various souvenirs (books, slides, cards, copies of exhibits etc.). |
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