Monasticism and, by extension, asceticism are unbreakably related to Orthodoxy and the fact that Cyprus neigbours Egypt and Palestine where asceticism grew resulted in Cyprus also becoming an important place for hermits.
Since this route is very long, it is divided into five different routes in order to cover the entire island.
In the years of iconoclasm, monasticism grew in Cyprus especially mainly due to the fact that the inhabitants kept their faith and offered refuge to all prosecuted monks from Constantinople as well as other parts of the then Byzantine Empire.
The Monastery of Agios Nikolaos, the Monastery of the Priests and many other cities were connected to this era. Later in the 11th and 12th centuries, when the Byzantine Empire receives attacks from the Turks as well as the Crusaders, a number of Monasteries are established in Cyprus which are very significant and even grow in number under Frankish as well as Venetian rules (Μonastery of Panagia Podithou, etc).
Monuments: Monastery of Archangelos Michael, Analiontas – Monastery of Agios Erakleidios, Politiko – Monastery of Machairas, Lazania – Agia Thekla, Mosfiloti – Monastery of Timios Stavros, Stavrovouni.
Total route length: 97 kilometres.
Start Point: Monastery of Agios Erakleidios, Politiko, Lefkosia
End Point: Monastery of Timios Stavros, Stavrovouni