The monastery of Timios Stavros –Mintha is located 3 km southeastern of Tsada.

According to the oldest reference that we have, the monastery was built in 1520. It is also said that someone had a holy vision that led him to the discovery of a big Cross which was placed in a bush with a candle next to it. So, the tradition says that the monastery was established because of this Cross, which was later placed on the iconostasis Some evidence found in the church lead us to the conclusion that it was demolished and then rebuilt in 1745 by the eparch of Paphos Joachim. The Cross was restored and placed in the museum of the Holy Bishopric of Paphos.

When the island was conquered by Franks, the Greek-Cypriot monks who lived in the monastery of Timios Stavros were sent away and Frank monks took their place. The Greek-Cypriot monks decided to remove a Big Cross which was kept on the iconostasis and hide it among some mint trees which were planted in the area. They probably wanted to come back again and take it as soon as they found a new monastery to live in but the Frank monks found the Cross accidentally in the mint trees and took it back in the monastery.

They placed it on the iconostasis, on the same place that it was before its removal from the Greek-Cypriot monks. The name of the monastery “Minthas” is a paraphrase of the word “mint” and it was given to the monastery because the Cross was found by the Frank in the mint trees. Some day during the 20th century a monk who lived in the monastery realized that a big fire was spreading around the premises of the monastery and he tried in vain to put it away. When he realized that he could not do anything more in order to save the monastery, he threw the Cross in the fire. The vertical side of the Cross was on fire but after a while it was suddenly put away. This Cross remains untouched (burnt on the vertical side) to this day and it is kept in the museum of the monastery.

Unfortunately, the monastery was gradually deserted because of the poverty of the entire population of the area and because of the apathy and the negligence of the bishop. The Holy Bishopric of Paphos in cooperation with the Department of Antiquities of Cyprus, has restored the church and the remaining cells of the monks.

The monastery is located in a quiet and tranquil environment among several golf terrains which are built in the area. In the yard of the church, there are many lemon trees, cypress trees, pomegranates and an old well which is no longer in use.

The church of the monastery is single aisled with arches, it is very small, with no decoration but the architecture is wonderful. It has three doors, a small dome and a small bell tower.

The iconostasis has carved wooden decoration and it is gilded since 1836. The icons placed on the iconostasis are dated back in 1770. Above the iconostasis, there is one narrower zone with two rows. On the first row there are thirteen icons and on the second there are eleven.
The church is stone made and its yard is paved with slabs. The old cells of the monks, which are also placed in the yard of the church, were restored under the supervision of the Department of Antiquities of Cyprus.

The church celebrates Mass regularly. The community celebrates the feast day of Timios Stavros the third Sunday of the Lent Period and on 14th September.

The awe and tranquility of the area are incredible. Nowadays, there is only one monk who lives in the monastery. His name is Varnavas, and he is always willing to show the monastery to all the visitors.

PANAGIA CHRYSELEOUSA

Panagia Chryseleousa is the central church of the community and it is built in the center of the village. The church is dedicated to Panagia Chryseleousa.

It was built in the 20th century and more precisely in 1910. Unfortunately, the church was seriously damaged because of the big earthquake that stroke the entire district of Paphos in 1953. In 1955 the inhabitants of the community decided to construct a new church near the old one.

It is a basilica with a dome and its capacity is 300 people. It is stone made and its yard is quite big with fencing which is decorated with stones. The inhabitants of the village have recently paved the yard on their own. The bell tower of the church is tall with arches and it abuts on the wall of the church on the north side of the ecclesiastical building. Inside the church, there is an iconostasis, made of marble, and it is decorated with old portable icons of several Saints. For some of these icons, we can assume the date of their manufacture. For example the holy icon of Panagia Theotokos, the icon of John the Precursor and some other icons which were transferred from the destroyed church to the new one. There is no gallery in this church.

The inhabitants of the village Tsada, decided to contribute to the painting of the entire church. Each one of them selects an hagiography and “finance” it, in order to create a beautiful church in their village, fully decorated.

In the yard of the church there is an event hall which was constructed after a donation of Stamatis and Nefeli Menelaou.

People from all over the country glorify Panagia Chryseleousa and her holy icon because the Virgin Mary has stood by their side helping them during some difficulties of the nation, such as droughts.

The feast day of Panagia Chryseleousa is on 8th September, the day of her Nativity. After the Mass there is also a procession of the holy icon.

Chapels

Chapel of Agia Marina

The chapel of Agia Marina is relatively new and it is situated southern of the village Tsada. It was built in 1954 after a donation of Maroula Omirou Dimitriadi, who is an inhabitant of the village. It is very small, elevated from the street level and very simple. It has not a gallery. Inside you can find two recent icons on a simple wooden iconostasis. It celebrates mass twice a year. The feast day of Agia Marina is on 17th July.

Chapel of Saint Constantine and Saint Helene

The small chapel of Saint Constantine and Saint Helene is relatively new. More precisely, it was built in 1970 with the donations and the contribution of the inhabitants of the village and other villagers. It is a small single aisled church with arches and its capacity is 50 people. It is situated eastern of the village. On the outside, it was painted white and recently a bell tower was constructed. Inside the church, there is a wooden and simple iconostasis with a few icons. Ten years ago the chapel was restored. The feast day of Saint Constantine and Saint Helene is on 21st May and their memory is celebrated with a big festival and procession of their holy icon.

Chapel of Saint Constantine and Saint Helene (holy water)

This church, which is also dedicated to Saint Constantine and Saint Helene, was built in 1995 by Anna and Vassos Dimitriou. The chapel was constructed on the foothills of a mountain. It is said that on the same place there used to be a cave with stalactites and holy water.

In 1980 and after a big storm, the mountain collapsed and the entry of the cave was closed. Anna Dimitriou had a holy vision of Saint Helene who guided her to the mountain. When she went in front of the cave, she couldn’t get in and reach the holy water. She thought that she should find a way to open the entry of the cave again, so she and her husband decided to build a chapel dedicated to Saint Constantine and Saint Helene. The chapel communicates, through a small and narrow gallery, with the cave where the holy water is kept. Some people who visited the cave have mentioned that when the stalactites melted they became holy water.

Around the chapel there are cypress trees and its yard is big and paved with slabs. It has arches and tiles on the roof.