Throne of the Virgin Mary

The Throne of the Virgin Mary (Throni tis Panagias) is situated 3 kilometers northwest of the Kykkos Monastery and is essentially a part of the monastery complex.

Located at the top of the Troodos mountain range and at an altitude of 1,300 meters, the Throne of the Virgin Mary is a site that includes a place dedicated to the Virgin Mary, as well as the statue and the tomb of Archbishop Makarios III, the First President of the Republic of Cyprus.

The area was the place where, during periods of drought, the monks of the monastery used to have a litany of the icon of the Virgin Mary, and through a path, they climbed up to the top of the mountain to place it on a wooden throne and ask for an end to the drought. The Virgin Mary of Kykkos monastery was known from the years of the Venetian occupation as “Our Lady of Rain” or “Maria of the Rain”, as it was connected with her rain-giving power, providing the island with the necessary precipitation.

In 1935, the wooden throne of Panagia was replaced by a canopy, supported by four pillars. The building is the work of the self-taught architect Philip Loizou, but it has also been replaced by another, larger and more magnificent construction. The new concrete building combines elements of Byzantine and modern architecture and is the work of architect Andreas Philippou, who also crafted the building at Makarios’ tomb.

Lower and before the Throne, in a specially shaped square, is the dark-coloured statue of Archbishop Makarios III, the work of the Cypriot sculptor Nikos Kotsianis, who created it in 1980 in Britain. The huge brass statue, weighing 11 tons and with a height of 10 meters, was installed in 1987 on the precinct of the Cypriot Archbishopric in Nicosia and was transferred to its new place in 2008 by the successor of Makarios, Archbishop Chrysostomos, It is considered to be the most photographed statue in Cyprus, according to the “Times” of London.

Close to Throni and after the statue, continuing straight, the grave of Archbishop Makarios III, who was a member of the brotherhood of the Kykkos Monastery, is also found. This area, where was buried the first leader of independent Cyprus, was a personal choice of Makarios himself. The grave covered by a black marble votive plaque is located in a semi-basement vaulted and paved structure, the work of architect Andreas Filippou in 1977.

Also, at the top of the mountain a new temple was built according to the designs of architect Ioannis Kopsachilis, which is an octagonal building, engraved into a square, with the addition of corner nooks and columns.

The premises of the Virgin Mary, the tomb and the statue of Makarios have been unified with pedestrian walkways, while mosaic compositions have been placed along the route that traverses these three monuments. Until today, the faithful who visit the Throne, continue the tradition that wants them to tie their scarves or other fabrics to the nearby shrubs as a tribute.