Bellapais Abbey is one of the main attractions of Kyrenia in Northern Cyprus, along with the Castle of St. Hilarion and the Kyrenian Castle. It was founded by monks of the Augustinian Order in 1187.
The Sultan of Syria and Egypt, Saladin, conquered Jerusalem from the Crusaders in 1187. Although the Crusaders still held the fortresses of Tyre and Sidon in the Holy Land until 1192, the main flow of refugees came from the Holy Land immediately after the fall of Jerusalem. Saladin was very generous. After the capture of the city, he did not kill the Christians, but allowed them to leave the Holy Land with their property. Most of them settled in Cyprus, and the Augustinian monks began the construction of a large abbey here.
In 1198, the construction of the Cathedral of St. Nicholas began in Famagusta, which became a magnificent example of Gothic architecture. The construction of Bellapais Abbey was also begun in 1198 in the high Gothic style. To this day, it has been preserved in ruins, but they make a great impression.
Bellapais Abbey was more often called the "White Abbey", as the Augustinian monks wore white clothing. King Guy de Lusignan donated his own funds for the construction of a beautiful Gothic complex, which in those years became one of the main monasteries in Cyprus.
Bellapais Abbey flourished two centuries after its foundation. Knight Roger Norman bequeathed to the abbey a fragment of the True Cross. With the advent of this Christian shrine, pilgrims began to come to Bellapais Abbey. They made rich donations. At this time, monumental Gothic churches and buildings were erected.
There are many rumors about monastic life in the abbey. It is said that during the reign of the Lusignans, the charter of the monastery was very strict and ascetic. Under the Genoese, everything changed radically, even to the point that women of easy virtue were found in the cells of the monks. In any case, after the conquest of Cyprus by the Turks, the monks were expelled from the abbey. Given that dozens of monasteries in the Troodos Mountains and elsewhere in Cyprus have been preserved, perhaps these rumors were not unfounded.
After the expulsion of the monks from Bellapais Abbey, the monastery began to ruin. To this day, it has been preserved in the ruins. The refectory is particularly impressive. The dimensions of the hall are 27 x 38 meters. Sometimes chamber concerts are held here. The abbey courtyard is surrounded by beautiful Gothic pointed arches. There are also sarcophagi that were brought from ancient Salamis.
