Overview
The Ayios Panteleimon Convent was built in the eighteenth century in the lush Achera Valley, northwest of Nicosia, near the village of Agrokipia.
The original monastery complex consisted of the main church and buildings located on the northern and eastern sides. The ground floor of the northern part of the church was divided into storage rooms, a laundry room, rooms with gyles and ovens and a room where sweets were produced. There are no remains of the old church, nor the original buildings of the monastery.
According to an inscription located at the west entrance of the church, it was renovated in 1770, three years after Archbishop Chrysanthos was enthroned. The iconostasis was gilded, while icons of Jesus Christ, Virgin Mary, Ayios Panteleimon and Ayios Nicolaos were painted by Michalis Thetallos.
The monastery played an important humanitarian role for the island during the National Liberation Struggle and the Turkish invasion of 1974. It was restored shortly after 1960, and in 1989 another annex was added to the southern part of the building. Today the monastery functions as a convent.
The convent is open all year round. In winter it is open from 06:00 – 17:00 (daily) and in summer 06:00 – 19:00 (daily). The convent is closed on Public Holidays and its entrance is free of charge. There is a disabled access to the monastery but not at the church. Opening and closing times as well as entrance fees, are subject to alterations without notice. Visitors are advised to check before visiting.
