Overview:

The St. Lazarus Church is an ancient Greek Orthodox Church located in the old city of Larnaca, Cyprus. It features an Icon Museum which contains one of the most important collections of 16th century icons in the world. The collection consists of 110 icons from the 16th and 17th centuries by various renowned painters from the Cretan, Ionic and Heptanese School. The Icon Museum contains icons depicting the Saints and other religious scenes and symbols, all painted on wooden panels. Visitors can also admire frescos of the interior of the church, which were painted in the 19th century and depict various events from the life of Jesus. The Icon Museum is run by an independent organization, The Religious Art Institute, and is open for visitors from Monday to Sunday. Entry is free. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Cyprus
Prominent Features:

is a very unique place. It involves a collection of displays of different religious icons and images from different Orthodox churches around the world. Some of the icons depict scenes from the Bible, while others show images of saints or religious symbols. Visitors can also purchase a number of religious items, such as icons, books and clothing. In addition, the museum offers guided tours to visitors to give them a better understanding of the religious history of the island and the Orthodox Church. The museum also provides special events and lectures throughout the year, making it a very interesting place to visit. This national monument of Cyprus portrays the history and culture of the country.

History:

The St. Lazarus Church Icon Museum in Larnaca, Cyprus is one of the oldest and most important churches of its kind in the country. The church has been an important pilgrimage site for centuries, and has been home to some of the most significant icons in the country's religious history. The earliest records of the church date back to the thirteenth century, when it was initially built as a Benedictine priory. The original building was destroyed during the Fourth Crusade in the early 1200s; however, in the 16th Century, the priory was rebuilt and renovated by the Bishop of Cyprus. Throughout the Middle Ages, St. Lazarus Church was a popular pilgrimage destination for both Christians and Muslims. During this time, numerous icons were commissioned and placed around the church. These original icons still remain, and today the building houses an extensive icon museum, which contains many of the original icons from the Middle Ages as well as more modern works. In more recent years, St. Lazarus Church has become a centre of Cypriot culture, hosting regular events such as concerts and exhibitions. It is also an important site for ecumenical dialogue, hosting an annual interfaith conference every April. In 2006, the church underwent substantial restoration work, allowing the icons to be displayed and preserved. The restoration of the church has made it once again a much-appreciated pilgrimage site and an important centre of religious history in Larnaca. You must visit one of these historical places in Cyprus on your Cyprus tour

Interesting facts:

1. The Icon Museum was established in 1995 and is dedicated to the collection, preservation and display of icons from the Greek Orthodox Church. 2. The museum houses over 300 icons from the 16th-20th centuries. 3. The museum building was part of the former St. Lazarus Church complex originally founded in the 9th century and incorporates frescoes from the original period. 4. The museum also has a special display of testimonies to the Cypriot soul in the form of ceramics, metals, carvings, glass, coins, manuscripts and modern icons. 5. The museum also offers educational programs and activities to the public. 6. One of the most valuable collections at the museum is the Tempter icon painted by 16th-century artist Aleksios, which was presented to the museum in 2002 by the Greek Ministry of Culture. 7. The museum is open daily for visiting. Visit one of the famous monuments of Cyprus with your friends and family.