St. Barnabas Archaeology and Icon Museum

St. Barnabas Archaeology and Icon Museum

fter receiving his education in Jerusalem, St. Barnabas tried to spread Christianity in Cyprus, and as a result, he was killed and secretly buried in a cave. Centuries later, Bishop Anthemios discovered the location of the grave in a dream, leading to the recovery of the body; subsequently, Emperor Zeno granted autonomy to the Church of Cyprus and established the St. Barnabas Monastery. After 1974, the monastery continued its religious function under three priests until they moved south in 1976, after which it was preserved and opened to visitors, displaying icons and other religious artifacts. A restoration project started in 1991 transformed the monastery church into a comprehensive Icon Museum, the monastery rooms into an Archaeology Museum, and the surrounding area was redesigned.

The St. Barnabas Archaeology and Icon Museum houses icons, dome paintings, and other religious artifacts from the early Christian period. Its archaeology section exhibits objects from the Neolithic period onward. St. Barnabas’s tomb is located a short distance from the monastery.