Cyprus-Forum.com

[doesntmatter]

Who were the "Genoese" GR, can you give me some info on them?

Italy was full of little kingdoms around the major cities, like Venice (Venetians), and modern day Genoa in the north was one too.

What is their [Genoese's] connection with Cyprus and Bellapais?

I'm not sure if there is one... they're not even mentioned in UNFICYP's version of events...

Maybe the UNFICYP has as little idea about them as you have.

Bellapais Abbey was first heard of as a house of Augustinian canons, founded by the king of Jerusalem (probably Aimery de Lusignan, who held that title from 1198 to 1205). The Augustinians came from Palestine, where their order had held custody of the church of the Holy Sepulchre. The monks of St. Norbert also arrived from Palestine, after losing two monasteries there. The Abbey adopted the canons of the Norbertines (or the Prémonstratensians) at the time of Thierry (1206 to 1211), the second Latin Archbishop of Nicosia.

The Abbey grew rapidly in importance. Pious benefactions increased its wealth, and included a piece of the “True Cross”, bequeathed in 1246 by a knight from Paphos. Royal patronage was granted on a generous scale by Hugh III (1267 to 1284), who was regarded as the Abbey’s leading benefactor. Hugh also granted the abbots the privileges of wearing the pontifical mitre during services, and of bearing a sword and gilt spurs when riding.

At the time of the Venetian occupation, the abbacy of Bellapais remained a rich prize, judging by the fact that at one time there were three claimants to the role: one supported by the Republic of Venice, one by the Pope and a third actually installed in the Abbey. With the decline of the Latin period in Cyprus, however, the Catholic Church on the island also declined. The Order of Premontre was no exception, particularly as the morals of the monks had lapsed toward the end of the Venetian occupation.

In 1570, during the Ottoman invasion of Cyprus, the Abbey was largely destroyed. What was left was handed over by the Ottomans to the Orthodox clergy.

http://www.unficyp.org/media/Blue%20Ber ... 202004.pdf[/quote]

And I thougght you knew the history of Cyprus.#


Here's what I found so far. Not sure of the how true this is but am still searching. If true though, it puts your theory that the Ottoman ruined Bellapais in the bin.

I'll post whatever I find when I find it.

Bellapais Abbey and Monastory :
Bellapais Abbey, about a 20 minute drive from the villa was founded by Augustinian monks, who came to Cyprus from Jerusalem, 1198. The Lusignan King Hugh III built much of what can be seen today between 1267 and 1284. The courtyard pavilions and magnificent Gothic refectory were added by his successor King Hugh IV and they were not completed until 1359. The Monastery rose to prominence after a wealthy knight, Roger the Norman, left them a gift of an important religious relic, widely believed to be a fragment of the True Cross. Pilgrims flocked to the Bellapais Monastery to see the relic and spend some time in retreat. However, when the Genoese invaded in 1373, the monastery’s treasury was plundered and the precious relic stolen and thus began the decline of Bellapais Abbey into what we see today. Bellapais is well worth a visit as it has the bonus of wonderful views and gardens.

[denizaksulu]

Looking at the butresses around the grand all you can see that there were numerous modifications made during its life time. Some of the butresses were added during the Venetian Period. These can be traced from their different styles. A lot of earthquakes occured in Cyprus. They must also have contributed to the damage. I have often discussed the Abbey with my uncle who was an architect (retired) who had studied the Byzantine Churches iof Cyprus for his Thesis.

[doesntmatter]

Some more info but again not a "credible" site.

Belapais/Beylerbey
The abbey at Belapais/Beylerbey is one of the unmissable sights on the this part of the island. Lawrence Durrell put the village of Belapais on the touristic and literary map when he bought an old house here in 1953 and restored it, as related in Bitter Lemons; a plaque on the outer wall comemorates his stay.

The abbey itself, at the north edge of the village, ranks as one of the more beautiful and atmospheric Gothic buildings on the entire island, despite vandalism by raiding Genoese, medieval villagers and the British. Founded early in the 13th century by Augustinians fleeing Palestine, Belapais reached its zenith under the patronage of Lusignan King Hugh III (1267–1284). The monks were accorded numerous privileges, such as the right to travel on horseback, armed with gilded sword and spurs; other, less codified perks, such as the amassment of personal riches and the taking of (multiple) concubines. During the Genoese-Venetian period the abbey went into a physical decline to match its moral one; there were few monks left for the victorious Ottomans to drive out in 1570, after which the grounds were handed over to the Orthodox church.

The delicate 14th-century cloister is mostly intact; on its north side, perched at the edge of an escarpment, is the sumptuous refectory, where six bay windows look onto the sea, and (conditions permitting) the Taurus mountains in Turkey. Because Belapais sees plenty of foreign tourists, the 13th-century church here is undesecrated, and much as the local Greeks left it when they departed under duress in 1976, the last group around Keryneia to do so; perhaps their tenacity and loyalty to their parish church was owed to the legend that the village was originally populated by the bastard offspring of the monks.

http://www.oakwood-village.com/Destinat ... u=ARTC1565

[doesntmatter]

Looking at the butresses around the grand all you can see that there were numerous modifications made during its life time. Some of the butresses were added during the Venetian Period. These can be traced from their different styles. A lot of earthquakes occured in Cyprus. They must also have contributed to the damage. I have often discussed the Abbey with my uncle who was an architect (retired) who had studied the Byzantine Churches iof Cyprus for his Thesis.

War between Genoese and Venetian didn't do it much good either.

[Get Real!]

Looking at the butresses around the grand all you can see that there were numerous modifications made during its life time. Some of the butresses were added during the Venetian Period. These can be traced from their different styles. A lot of earthquakes occured in Cyprus. They must also have contributed to the damage. I have often discussed the Abbey with my uncle who was an architect (retired) who had studied the Byzantine Churches iof Cyprus for his Thesis.

War between Genoese and Venetian didn't do it much good either.

The first quote you posted was already posted by someone else so we already know that it mentioned some Genovese involvement, however not everyone seems to agree with this version of events and I would tend to avoid quoting from tourist and real estate sites.

Anyway, given that Cyprus was overrun by the Ottomans starting from 1570, I can’t see how the Orthodox Church, without an army could go on a crusade and expel any Catholics so let’s be reasonable here…

[doesntmatter]

Looking at the butresses around the grand all you can see that there were numerous modifications made during its life time. Some of the butresses were added during the Venetian Period. These can be traced from their different styles. A lot of earthquakes occured in Cyprus. They must also have contributed to the damage. I have often discussed the Abbey with my uncle who was an architect (retired) who had studied the Byzantine Churches iof Cyprus for his Thesis.

War between Genoese and Venetian didn't do it much good either.

The first quote you posted was already posted by someone else so we already know that it mentioned some Genovese involvement, however not everyone seems to agree with this version of events and I would tend to avoid quoting from tourist and real estate sites.[/q1uote]

I did mention that it's not a "credible" site but you've got to admit that they must have got it from somewhere and did not pull the "[hi]story" out of their backside.

Anyway, given that Cyprus was overrun by the Ottomans starting from 1570, I can’t see how the Orthodox Church, without an army could go on a crusade and expel any Catholics so let’s be reasonable here…

They didn't have to, the Ottoman did them a favour and expelled the few monks that were still there and gave it to the OC Priests, wasn't that nice of them? I mean, they could have kept it or even destroyed it completely had they wanted it to but they didn't.

BTW, there are many sites on google that tell the same story and I'm still searching for the one that will shut you up.

[Get Real!]

I did mention that it's not a "credible" site but you've got to admit that they must have got it from somewhere and did not pull the "[hi]story" out of their backside.

You’d be amazed at what people can pull out of their back side… especially when it comes to the CyProb! Have you met Zan yet?

They didn't have to, the Ottoman did them a favour and expelled the few monks that were still there and gave it to the OC Priests, wasn't that nice of them? I mean, they could have kept it or even destroyed it completely had they wanted it to but they didn't.

BTW, there are many sites on google that tell the same story and I'm still searching for the one that will shut you up.

You confused soul... you've already admitted here that the Ottomans "expelled them" and then brag that you'll find evidence that they did not?

I give up!

[doesntmatter]

I did mention that it's not a "credible" site but you've got to admit that they must have got it from somewhere and did not pull the "[hi]story" out of their backside.

You’d be amazed at what people can pull out of their back side… especially when it comes to the CyProb! Have you met Zan yet?

No but I've read some of the things you pulled out of your backside.:lol:

They didn't have to, the Ottoman did them a favour and expelled the few monks that were still there and gave it to the OC Priests, wasn't that nice of them? I mean, they could have kept it or even destroyed it completely had they wanted it to but they didn't.

BTW, there are many sites on google that tell the same story and I'm still searching for the one that will shut you up.

You confused soul... you've already admitted here that the Ottomans "expelled them" and then brag that you'll find evidence that they did not?

I give up! [/quote]

That's not the proof I am looking for you confused one, I'm looking for proof that Bellapais was already in ruins (almost) when the Ottoman conquered the island and not as you claimed the ones who ruined it.

If you are looking for a chance to make your getaway all you have to say is that you were wrong.

[Get Real!]

If you are looking for a chance to make your getaway all you have to say is that you were wrong.

Why can’t we just agree that EOKA B bombed the Abbey to smithereens to blame the Ottomans, and Makarios the Rasputin murderer decapitated the pesky Catholics who refused to convert to Orthodoxy despite months of his torture?

[doesntmatter]

If you are looking for a chance to make your getaway all you have to say is that you were wrong.

Why can’t we just agree that EOKA B bombed the Abbey to smithereens to blame the Ottomans, and Makarios the Rasputin murderer decapitated the pesky Catholics who refused to convert to Orthodoxy despite months of his torture?

I'll let you make your getaway if you admit that you bombed it so that you can blame it on the EOKA B and was seen and chased by Makarios Zeuss who accidentally killed the Catholics with a couple of shots of lightning from his stick.