Mesa Potamos (24)
The Monastery of Saint John the Baptist (Timios Prodromos) of Mesa Potamos as it is known, is situated between the villages of Platres, Saitas and Kato Amiantos, and is found on the southern slopes of the Troodos Mountain. Information for its establishment and its founders are unfortunately not known but it is considered to be of the same age as the other major Monasteries of Cyprus, namely Kykkos, Macheras, Trooditissa, Trikoukkia, Saint Nicholas tis Stegis, and others. The Monastery, dates back to the Byzantine period, and more precisely to the 12th century, during the same time the other monasteries in the region were build. This date can be witnessed by the icon of the 12th century, dedicated to Zoodochos Pigi (the Life Giving Source) of Saittiotissa which belonged to the Monastery. Around 1914, when the Monastery was destroyed by the Bishop of Kitium Meletios Metaxakis, the icon was transferred to the church of the Holy Cross, in the nearby village Kouka. In turn, during 2003, the icon was transferred to the Bishopric of Limassol. The first written historic testimony about the Monastery comes from a document of the Frankish king of Cyprus James II, who in 1468 granted to the abbot of the Monastery of Mesa Potamos, Father Gregory and his nephew, a quantity of wine and five " Byzantine Dinars" from the kazan (provincial department) of Koilani for each consecutive year and for lifetime.
Mesa Potamos (24)
The Monastery of Saint John the Baptist (Timios Prodromos) of Mesa Potamos as it is known, is situated between the villages of Platres, Saitas and Kato Amiantos, and is found on the southern slopes of the Troodos Mountain. Information for its establishment and its founders are unfortunately not known but it is considered to be of the same age as the other major Monasteries of Cyprus, namely Kykkos, Macheras, Trooditissa, Trikoukkia, Saint Nicholas tis Stegis, and others. The Monastery, dates back to the Byzantine period, and more precisely to the 12th century, during the same time the other monasteries in the region were build. This date can be witnessed by the icon of the 12th century, dedicated to Zoodochos Pigi (the Life Giving Source) of Saittiotissa which belonged to the Monastery. Around 1914, when the Monastery was destroyed by the Bishop of Kitium Meletios Metaxakis, the icon was transferred to the church of the Holy Cross, in the nearby village Kouka. In turn, during 2003, the icon was transferred to the Bishopric of Limassol. The first written historic testimony about the Monastery comes from a document of the Frankish king of Cyprus James II, who in 1468 granted to the abbot of the Monastery of Mesa Potamos, Father Gregory and his nephew, a quantity of wine and five " Byzantine Dinars" from the kazan (provincial department) of Koilani for each consecutive year and for lifetime.