Timios Stavros tou Agiasmati

Overview

Timios Stavros tou Agiasmati (Greek: ) is a church building of the Cypriot Orthodox Church in Cyprus. The church was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985 as part of the World Heritage Site Painted Churches in the Troodos area.

Location and Architecture

The church is one of the barn roof churches in the Troodos Mountains, located approximately four kilometers from Platanistasa. It is dedicated to the Holy Cross. The wooden roof of the church rests on a wall surrounding it, creating a covered environment, similar to the church of Panagia tis Podithou in Galata.

History

The nickname Agiasmati probably refers to refugees from a place of the same name in Asia Minor who fled here after the conquest of Constantinople in 1453. The church was initially built as part of a monastery on the site during the 15th century.

Art and Decoration

The paintings in the church date back to the end of the 15th century. Among them are two scenes depicting the conversion of Emperor Constantine to Christianity and ten miniatures showing the discovery of the true cross of Christ by Constantine's mother.

UNESCO World Heritage Site

As part of the Painted Churches in the Troodos area, Timios Stavros tou Agiasmati was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1985.