The establishment depicted here was founded by St. John Lampadistis in the 11th century as a monastic complex and provided the saint’s resting place.
The church was shared by both Greeks and Latins during the island’s Latin rule.
Its iconostasis is the original Latin rood screen. The church is divided into three parts, the first dedicated to Saint Heracleidios, the middle to Saint John Lampadistis and the northern part serving as a Latin chapel.
The steeple roof follows the tradition of many churches in mountainous Troodos that bear the distinctive feature of Orthodox church architecture. The pitched roofs and elaborate wooden constructions shielded the Byzantine shaped structures of the churches from rain and snowfall.
According to a local legend, Saint John was born at Lampas near Galata. The daughter of a rich village landowner fell in love with him and they became engaged. However, John longed for the monastic life and as the time for the wedding drew near, he fled to the village and hid in a cave. The parents of the bride-to-be consulted with a magician who inflicted blindness upon the young man. He died at the age of twenty-two, having performed many miracles.
On the saint’s name day, 25th June, it was customary to light fires in the streets of the village. A fire was lit after the evening meal and was left to burn for an hour while the villagers sang and danced.
PNT-00859 > Tessa Henderson, St. John Lampadistis - Kalopanayiotis, pencil drawing, 20x38 cm, 1985-1988.
© Costas and Rita Severis Foundation
