It is among the most ancient in Cyprus, even if the date of its foundation cannot be precisely determined. The Holy Monastery of Mary (Panayia Eleousa Trikoukkiotissa) is located on Troodos, 2 kilometers from Prodromos village, on the way to Platres, in an amazing natural environment and its name seems to be closely related to this environment.

The name (Trikoukkiotissa) is thought to come from “trikoukkies” (hawthorns, the fruits of which have 3 seeds). Another version, though, suggests that the name domes from the tree kokkonia (celtis australis), which seems to be the origin of the Kykkos Monastery name, too. A third version suggests that, during the Ottoman Empire years, the monastery lived one third (“trikoukki” in Cypriot) of the taxes of the Kouklia land.

The Monastery used to be quite large and especially popular back in the days and its fame was just as large as the fame of the Kykkos Monastery. It was actually majestic enough as to inspire respect to the Ottomans that occupied the island, who did not destroy the Monastery, even though it had started to lose its glamour during the Ottoman Empire era.

Find out more about the monastery here.