Pafos Live 28 September 2025
The Cypriot ascetic and venerable Saint Neophytos the Recluse is honoured on January 24, April 12 and September 28.
Saint Neophytos of Cyprus, also known as Saint Neophytos the Recluse (1134-1214) was a Cypriot Orthodox hieromonk, hermit and historical writer (chronicler), whose texts preserve aspects of the history of the first Crusades. He was declared a saint of the Orthodox Church and his memory is celebrated on January 24, April 12 and September 28. He is considered to be "one of the most important figures of the Church of Cyprus".
In June 1159 he found himself in the hilly area above Tala, where he discovered a cavity in the earth that had been used by a previous hermit. Neophytos enlarged the space and eventually created three cavities or "caves", known today by the names "Cellion", "Vima" and "Naos", with the whole being called "the enkleistra". There he began to live as an ascetic. This life attracted the religious of the area, who began to bring him food and some goods as gifts. Over time, more and more people visited the place to meet him and in 1170 the Bishop of Paphos, Basil Kinnamos, ordained him a priest and forced him to take at least one student, which brought about the foundation of the Monastery that today bears the name of Saint Neophytos. To avoid the world, Neophytos carved new enclosures into the rocks and communicated with the people only every Sunday. The existence of monks made it easier for the saint to intensify his confinement, as his disciples would take over the various external tasks of the monastery.
The monastery of Agios Neophytos is a refuge
In the meantime, the secession of Cyprus from the Byzantine Empire brought misery to the Church and the people. The poverty and misery of the people led many to ask for food in the monasteries, one of which was the new monastery of Agios Neophytos. The fall of Constantinople to the hands of the Franks in April 1204 was a shocking event for Neophytos as well. He considered the Fall of Constantinople, the patron saint of the Orthodox, a "revealing" event and for this reason he attempts to interpret the Apocalypse by making an effort to explain why the forces of the Antichrist prevailed at the expense of the Church of Christ.
Saint Neophytos passed away in a deep old age, on April 12. He was buried in the tomb he had prepared himself in a wooden coffin, made of pine, cedar and cypress wood, which he had built while he was alive. His holy relic is kept to this day in the monastery of the same name in Cyprus, which is dedicated to his memory. In addition to April 12, the memory of the Saint is commemorated locally on January 24 and September 28 (finding of his holy relics).
