Ss. Neophytos, Ignatios, Prokopios and Neilos of Machairas

Neophytos and Ignatios, hermits from the desert of the Jordan, came to Cyprus, and in 1145, by the tradition of the house, found in a cave on the mountain of Machairas an icon of the Theotokos held to have been painted by the Apostle Luke; in 1148 they founded a monastery round it. After Neophytos died, Ignatios and the monk Prokopios went to Constantinople and obtained from the emperor Manuel Komnenos the whole mountain and the rank of a stavropegion, answerable to no local bishop. Neilos, who joined them, became the first abbot, enlarged the church, and left the monastery the written rule for a common life that bears his name. Feast: December 13.