St Barnabas Monastery
A monastery near Salamis over the tomb of the apostle Barnabas, now holding icon and archaeological collections.
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Barnabas, a Cypriot and companion of Paul, was by tradition killed at Salamis, and his tomb was found nearby in the fifth century with a copy of Matthew's gospel on his chest. That discovery was used to argue the independence of the Cypriot church from Antioch, and it succeeded. The monastery built over the site stands a short distance from the tomb itself, which is in a separate small mausoleum reached by steps down. The monastic buildings now hold a collection of icons and one of archaeological finds from the region.
What you actually see
- The tomb - a rock-cut chamber under a small mausoleum, reached down steps.
- The icon collection - icons displayed through the monastery church.
- The archaeological museum - regional finds arranged in the monastic ranges.
- The courtyard - the walled monastery yard with its bell towers.
When to go
March to May and October to November are the most comfortable. The site keeps museum hours rather than church hours and closes in the late afternoon. Summer is very hot with little shade.
Honest expectations
The monastery is a museum rather than a living community and the atmosphere reflects that. The icon display is crowded and poorly labelled. Bring ID for the crossing points.
Nearby
Salamis is a few kilometres east on the coast, and Famagusta is south.
What to pack for St Barnabas Monastery
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.