THE BELLAPAIS MONASTERY
 Bellapais Abbey derives its name from French
Abbey de la Paix which means “ Abbey of Peace” .
The monastery is one of the most peaceful and serene
places on the island indeed. The Venetians corrupted
the long-standing name, Abbey de la Pais to De la
Pais , from which it was easy elision to Béllapais.
The abbey was originally established by St Mary
of the Mountain just after 1200 by Augustinian
canons fleeing their kingdom of Holy Land .
Augustinians persuaded by Thierry, Archbishop of
Cyprus, and a man behind the construction of Agia
Sophia Cathedral (Selimiye Mosque) in Nicosia , they
adopted the rule that arose in Premontré in Northern
France .
Bellapais Abbey was also known as White
Abbey because of the white habits worn by these
monks. Under Thierry's guidance the abbey went
prosperous, influential and made a fair reputation.
It was even necessary for Pope Gregory IX in 1232 to
remind the abbot of his canonical obedience and
spend less time on secular affairs of state.
Soon Lusignan King Hugh III conferred on the abbot
the right to wear a mitre, sword and golden spurs,
which only puffed up the abbey's pretensions towards
archbishopric of Nicosia . Moreover, in 1246 the
abbey benefited from a large wealth left by a knight
simply known as Roger the Norman who endowed them
with a gift of a supposed fragment of the True
Cross. This sacred relic made the abbey the focus of
some distinguished wealthy pilgrims who would spend
time in retreat and leave a generous remuneration at
the end of their stay.
Amassed in tremendous wealth, the abbey became a
venue not only for worshippers, but also for royal
family and nobility members. Under the rule of Hugh
IV (1324-1359) the abbey continued on developing.
Hugh IV, who was a devout catholic and an art
promoter, was having great affection for Bellapais
and spending much of his time constructing and
renovating the monastic quarters.
It was during his
reign that the cloisters and the large refectory
were built. The building was probably completed
during the reign of Peter I and there was no further
construction work thereafter.
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