The Hermitage of Saint Neophytos

0. Content

1. Introduction
2. Gallery
3. Estimation of Complexity & Quality
4. Taxonomy
5. User Categorisation
6. Research Outputs
7. Bibliography

1. Introduction

The Hermitage (enkleistra) of Saint Neophytos is one of the most celebrated Byzantine twelfth-century monuments worldwide, given the high quality and the unique iconographic program of its frescoes, encountered nowhere else in the Byzantine world, as well as the fact that the whole complex was cut in rock.

The monument is connected with an important intangible heritage. The community that was built and organised around Neophytos has been the centre of intellectual production with strong connections to the Byzantine elites of the island and the capital of the Byzantine empire (Constantinople), during the tumultuous period spanning the last decades of the Byzantine era -which ended with the conquest of the island by Richard the Lionheart in 1191- through the first decades of the Frankish period of Cyprus.

The intellectual production at the Enkleistra is evidenced by the writings of Neophytos and the composition of the pictorial narratives of the frescoes. The latter has been studied extensively in the past, whereas the writings of Neophytos, as well as the artefacts produced by or connected to the members of the circle of Neophytos both monks and laymen, have made the object of far less study.

Life of Saint Neophythos

Saint Neophytos the Recluse (1134-ca.1214) is one of the most important Cypriot Saints and historic figures. He was a prolific writer who composed his biography, an account of the first years of the Latin conquest of the island, as well as several theological treatises. At the age of 17, he became a monk at Koutsoventis Monastery. In search of a solitary life, he quit this Monastery two years later. After many adventures, he decided to become an ascetic in the mountainous area above the city of Paphos. In 1159 he started building his cell, by enlarging and modifying an already existing cave, which was expanded into a complex comprising three caves: the Cell, the Bema and the Naos dedicated to the Holy Cross.

Neophytos soon became a well-known spiritual figure and in 1170 he was forced by Basil Kinnamos, the bishop of Paphos at the time, to accept a disciple. During this same period, the Enkleistra began to be extended and adorned with paintings, while the whole cliff was excavated for the creation of additional cells. This extension phase included possibly as well the Refectory, which was also adorned. According to Neophytos’ testimony, however, the Naos was excavated in 1183. The increasing number of pilgrims visiting him obliged Neophytos to dig another cave above the first one (the so-called New Zion), in search of solitude and inner peace. This latter cave was completed and painted by the end of 1197. According to written testimonies, the Enkleistra was painted in 1183 by Theodoros Apseudis, likely a Constantinopolitan painter who came to Cyprus at the instigation of the bishop of Paphos Basil Kinnamos. To the same painter are also attributed the Bema and the Naos of the church of the Virgin at Lagoudera (UNESCO World Heritage monument in Cyprus, dated ca. 1192), as well as at least seven icons currently owned by different ecclesiastical institutions in Cyprus.

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2. Gallery

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3. Estimation of Complexity & Quality

The following radial charts are base on the based on the EU 3D Study/VIGIE 2020/654

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5. User Categorisation

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6. Research Output

Videos

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7. Bibliography

• Διεθνές Συνέδριο “Άγιος Νεόφυτος ο Έγκλειστος : Ιστορία-Θεολογία-Πολιτισμός”, Ιερά Βασιλική και Σταυροπηγιακή Μονή Αγίου Νεοφύτου, . (2010). Πρακτικά Α΄ Διεθνούς Συνεδρίου Άγιος Νεόφυτος ο Έγκλειστος. Πάφος: Ιερά Βασιλική και Σταυροπηγιακή Μονή Αγίου Νεοφύτου.
• Aristotelous, Charalambos. Saint Neophytos the Recluse and the Use of Holy Scripture in His Works: Comparative Documentation and Statistical Analysis Using Computational Processing. PhD diss., University of  Nicosia, Department of Theology, 2023  https://repository.unic.ac.cy/archive/item/4386?lang=en
• Aristotelous, Charalambos. “Biblical Citations in the Writings of Saint Neophytos the Recluse.” Journal of Byzantine Studies. Nicosia, 2018. Conference paper.
• Aristotelous, Charalambos, ed. The Story of Neophytos the Recluse. Lefkara and Tala, Cyprus: Bilingual Exhibition Catalogue (Greek/English), 2016.
• Bakirtzis, Dimitrios. “The Hermitage Layout and Spatial Organization at the Enkleistra of Saint Neophytos.” In Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Byzantine Monasticism. Thessaloniki: University of Thessaloniki Press, 2009.
• Bouras, Charalambos. “Iconographic Cycles in the Chapel of Saint Neophytos.” Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies 29 (2005): 211–234.
• Christodoulides, Charalambos G. Saint Neophytos Monastery: History and Art. Nicosia, 1989. (In Greek).
• Christodoulou, George. The Monastery of St. Neophytos and Byzantine Art in Cyprus. Nicosia, 1992.
• Christodoulou, George. The Monastery of St. Neophytos and Its Frescoes. Nicosia, 1992.
• Constantelos DJ. The Making of a Saint: The Life, Times and Sanctification of Neophytos the Recluse. By Catia Galatariotou. Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press, 1991. xvi + 310 pp. $64.50. Church History. 1994;63(3):440-441. doi:10.2307/3167549
• Georgiou, Stavros G. Nicholas Coureas, The Foundation Rules of Medieval Cypriot Monasteries: Makhairas and St Neophytos [Cyprus Research Centre, Texts and Studies in the History of Cyprus, XLVI], Nicosia 2003, σ. 182, in Βυζαντινά 29 (2009) (= Αφιέρωμα Στη Μνήμη Του Δημητρίου Γ. Τσάμη) 521-523 [in Greek].
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• Efthymiadis, Stephanos. “Cypriot Hagiography in the Hundred Years of Latin Rule.” In The Hagiography of Byzantine Cyprus: Saints, Hagiographers and Texts (Fourth to Thirteenth Century). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2025.
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• Kakoulli, Ioanna. Conservation Studies of the Enkleistra Frescoes. Nicosia: Digital Heritage Research Lab, 2012.
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• Kakoulli, Ioanna, and Christian Fischer. The Techniques and Materials of the Wall Paintings at the Enkleistra of St. Neophytos (Phase II). Dumbarton Oaks Project Grant Report. Washington, DC: Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, Harvard University, 2012.
• Kapsalis, Theodoros. “Saint Neophytos’ Proverbs: Ascetic Teaching and Daily Life.” Byzantine Journal of Spirituality 12 (2016): 59–85.
• Lazaridis, Christos. Cypriot Monastic Manuscripts: A Catalogue. Nicosia: A. G. Leventis Foundation Press, 2011.
• Leventis Foundation, ed. The Typicon of Saint Neophytos the Recluse (1134–post 1214): Daily Life and Rules at the Enkleistra. Tala and Paphos: A. G. Leventis Foundation, 2024. 
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• Markides, Kyriakos. “Garden Symbolism in the Hermitage of Saint Neophytos.” Journal of Byzantine Art and Archaeology 15 (2018): 99–123.
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• Oikonomou, Evangelos. “The Enkleistra in Medieval Travel Accounts.” In Byzantine Pilgrimage Literature. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2020.
• Paschali M., Minasidis D., Seeing beyond seeing: Light and theophanic contemplation at the Enkleistra of Neophytos, Cyprus”, in Licht aus dem Osten? Natural Light in Medieval Churches between Byzantium and the West, A.I. Sullivan and V. Ivanovici (eds.), East Central and Eastern Europe in the Middle Ages, 450-1450, vol. 88. Leiden/Boston: Brill, 2022, pp. 128-150. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004527980_007; https://brill.com/display/serial/ECEE?contents=toc-67486
• Papageorgiou, Athanasios. The Enkleistra of Saint Neophytos. Nicosia, 1969. (In Greek).
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• Radpour, Reza, et al. “THz Imaging Studies of Painted Samples to Guide Cultural Heritage Investigations at the Enkleistra of Saint Neophytos in Paphos, Cyprus.” In Terahertz Emitters, Receivers, and Applications V, Proc. SPIE 9102. Bellingham, WA: SPIE, 2014. 
• Stathopoulos, Leonidas. Greek Manuscript Traditions in Cyprus. Athens: National Hellenic Research Foundation, 2010.
• Tryfonos, George & Ioannides, Marinos & Anastasi, A. & Apostolou, V. & Pieri, P. & Koundouris, M. & Savva, F. (2021). CULTURAL HERITAGE MONUMENT DOCUMENTATION THROUGH ADAPTIVE PARAMETRIC DESIGN PROCESS. The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences. XLVI-M-1-2021. 769-776. 10.5194/isprs-archives-XLVI-M-1-2021-769-2021.
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• Tsiamis, Nikos. “Architectural Developments at Saint Neophytos’ Enkleistra.” Byzantine Architecture Review 11 (2014): 145–174.
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• The Hermitage of St. Neophytos, Cyprus.  https://openheritage3d.org/project.php?id=D6HP4V

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