Saint Mamas Church and Icon Museum, Nicosia District, Cyprus

4Caroline B 5:00 PM May 26, 2018

St Mamas and the Lion Legend
St Mamas, is one of the most beautiful and best kept of Orthodox churches that are preserved as Icon Museums. Built on the site of an Aphrodite temple, it was constructed during the 18th century AD, on the site of an early Byzantine church, and is maintained by the Antiquities Department of North Cyprus. We visited Guzelyurt to see this church while on holiday in Northern Cyprus. There is a car park near by but it is possible to park in front of the church with shops, cafes and toilets nearby. We parked near the Baklava shop – delicious – many variations. A reasonable entrance fee covers both the church and the adjacent Guzelyurt Museum of Archaeology. There was a helpful custodian who gave us an insight into the church and showed us the 'hole in the tomb'. The church has a central nave, apse, and two side aisles A dome rises above the nave at the altar end. Columns are decorated with carvings, vine leaves and some rather heavy looking faces. There are two marble pillars on either side of the Holy Door . There is a magnificent crystal chandelier that hangs in the centre of the apse with hundreds of droplets. This is but one of several churches on the island dedicated to St. Mamas around whom many legends have arisen. One legend was that Mamas was a young holy man who lived in a cave outside the town limits during the Roman occupation. This was a time when all citizens were required to pay taxes. Mamas pleaded poverty and said he had nothing but the clothes he wore and the food given to him by charitable people from the town for whom he prayed in return. The Roman authorities arrested him as his plea was not accepted. On the way to town Mamas saw a lamb being attacked by by a lion. Mamas scooped up the lamb, jumped onto the lion's back and continued on his way to face his punishment. The court was astonished by what had taken place and decided he must be a truly holy man. His punishment was withdrawn and exemption from paying taxes, granted. So, Mamas became the patron saint of tax avoiders! The other legend says Mamas was killed somewhere in Anatolia and was placed by his family in a stone coffin, aided by Jesus Christ! The coffin was said to have been swept away into the sea and washed up on the shores of Guzelyurt Bay. A local farmer, harnessed it to two oxen and pulled it along as far as they could manage. A church was then built around it. The marble sarcophagus of St. Mamas can be found, forming part of the north wall of the church. The lid of the tomb has been pierced, allegedly by someone who thought the tomb contained treasure. The hole created, now oozes a liquid that is said to have curative properties. Around the tomb you can see votive offerings in the shape of ears and tongues because St. Mamas is not only the Patron Saint of tax avoiders, but also those suffering with ear, nose and throat infections! We enjoyed our visit to St Mamas, as also the Archaelogy Museum. The Monastery buildings you see are now used for business purposes.

4nsander219 5:00 PM May 23, 2022

Lovely Church with Interesting Interior
This is kept permanently locked with the keys held in the museum next door. A lovely building which has survived the various invasions. A very clean area around the cloisters sets it off nicely. Beyond the church construction it is utilised as an ikon museum. It is interesting to compare this to the collection at St Barnabas further to the East. Patron Saint of Tax Evasion is a new one on me.