Holy Monastery of St Nicholas of the Cats, Byzantine monastery in Akrotiri, Cyprus
The Holy Monastery of St Nicholas of the Cats is a religious complex with a church, living quarters, and open grounds near the Akrotiri salt lake. The site centers around a significant cat population that shapes what visitors see and experience throughout the grounds.
The monastery was founded in the early medieval period with the purpose of creating a religious community while simultaneously protecting the local surroundings. The link between religious mission and practical necessity to control snakes gave the site its distinctive history.
The monastery is known for its long-standing practice of housing numerous cats, which visitors can observe freely roaming the grounds today. This custom has shaped the life and character of the place across generations.
The grounds can be visited during daylight hours and offer open access to the church, living areas, and surrounding terrain. Visitors should remember this is an active religious community where nuns live and work daily.
The monastery houses a rare cat breed that developed over centuries from the isolated population living there. Today these animals remain a living part of the site's heritage and draw researchers studying their genetic characteristics.
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