Important
reference points in the timeline
After moving to Larnaca the fame of the family as exceptional jewellers
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. Others simply
saw that the exceptional makings were also worth collecting.
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 Staurovouni and the three Churches of Holy Mary at the village of Kivisili.
For the Athos mountain monasteries the Kalopedis family has created numerous,
special order pieces of Challises, Bible covers and other one of a kind
artifacts.
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.
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