Kalopedis Family - Important Works

Important Works

After moving to Larnaca the fame of the family began to grow further and people from all over Cyprus and from overseas were asking to have icons and other ecclesiastical instruments made for them. These were primarily intended as donations to churches. Some of the most important religious places for which the family has created pieces for are the monasteries of Athos Mountain in Greece, the monastery of Stavrovouni and the three Churches of Holy Mary at the village of Kivisili.

The silver cross that was made for the monastery of Staurovouni is one of the significant pieces ever made by the family since the monastery is one of the most hallowed places in the Christian faith. It is the monastery which according to a religious transition was founded by St. Helena, the mother of the Byzantine Emperor Constantine I, the Great. She had discovered the three crosses on which Jesus and the two thieves had been crucified on her visit to the Holy Land. On her way back to Constantinople, she left a piece of the Holy Cross of Jesus at this monastery. The jewellers of the family were asked to create a silver cross where in its center; the piece of the holy cross of Jesus was placed. The silver cross is decorated with hammering with an image representing the moment of the resurrection and other images and representations of saints and apostles.

In 1981 a silver icon for the church of Holy Mary at the village of Kivissili was made. The icon is one of the most elaborately decorated icons made by the Kalopedis family. There is also an interesting true story behind this icon. The icon was made to cover an already existing painting. The silver icon however does not cover the face of Mary and Jesus. These are left uncovered so that their iconographical image can be displayed. One day a Turkish man, one of the many that used to live in the village, had walked into this Greek Orthodox Church and stubbed the icon of Mary in the left eye. As a result the man permanently lost his vision. The mark is still visible today.

The most outstanding icons however made by the family, are the resent works for the church of St. Savvas at the village of Leivadia, outside the town of Larnaca.