Overview

The Skete of the Resurrection of the Saviour in Vouni, Cyprus is a secluded and intriguing place steeped in history and religious devotion. Founded by Monk Damaskinos in 1948, the Skete was built on a small estate near Vouni, surrounded by vineyards and wild vegetation. Damaskinos, born Dimitris in 1915 as poor boy from rural Vouni, lived a solitary life, cultivating the land, raising bees, and creating traditional woven chairs for extra income. His daily life was divided between labor, study, and prayer, and he was driven by a desire to build a chapel dedicated to the Resurrection of the Saviour. This wish was finally fulfilled in 1985, when craftsmen from the nearby village of Agios Amvrosios built the chapel which remains the only church in Cyprus of its kind. Although Damaskinos lived in solitude by choice, he was not completely isolated from the world around him, as he took part in the EOKA struggle in the 1950s by either transferring messages or hiding guerrilla fighters in his home. Damaskinos lived a simple and peaceful life until his passing in 2005 at the age of 90, but his legacy lived on through his Skete. Despite his isolation, Damaskinos' life left an indelible mark on the character of the space, which continues to exude tranquility, simplicity, and a connection to the natural world. In 2012, Father George from the Monastery of Christ the Counsellor arrived and took up residence, following in Damaskinos' footsteps and living a solitary life with faith as his only companion. In 2019, a massive fire threatened the Skete and its lands, but miraculously ,as if by divine intervention, the Skete and its surroundings were unscathed. This little piece of land that Damaskinos had inherited has become a humble but welcoming Skete, a symbol of the soul's ability to rest in peace and connect with something greater and higher than material goods. The Skete is a testament to Damaskinos' unwavering devotion and his belief in the power of solitude and spiritual connection.