Monastery of St. Barnabas
5th century St. Barnabas Feast, June 11
The burial place of St. Barnabas.
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Plan your own visit How long to stay, how to get there, what to see, and what to bring. Travel guideWhat happened here
The Story
The Monastery of St. Barnabas, near the ruins of ancient Salamis outside Famagusta, Cyprus, stands at the traditional burial place of the apostle Barnabas, the great companion of St. Paul. A Levite from Cyprus whom the apostles surnamed Barnabas, son of encouragement (Acts 4:36-37), he sold his property for the early Christian community, introduced the converted Saul to the apostles, and set out with Paul from Antioch on the first missionary journey, which began on this very island. According to the traditional account, Barnabas returned to evangelize his native Cyprus and was martyred at Salamis around the year 61. In 478, Archbishop Anthemius of Cyprus, guided by a dream, is said to have discovered the apostle's tomb nearby, with a copy of the Gospel of Matthew resting on his breast. The find moved the Emperor Zeno to finance a great basilica at the site, and tradition links it to the recognition of the Church of Cyprus's ancient autonomy. The monastery buildings seen today date largely from a rebuilding of 1756, with earlier Byzantine work incorporated in the church. Monks lived here until the events of 1974, when the site came under Turkish administration in Northern Cyprus; the church now serves as an icon museum and the cloisters as an archaeological museum. A short walk from the monastery, a small mausoleum chapel covers the rock-cut chamber venerated as the apostle's tomb, where Christian visitors still descend to pray. For Catholic pilgrims the site is a rare, tangible link to the Acts of the Apostles: the resting place, according to tradition, of the man whose generosity and encouragement helped carry the Gospel from Jerusalem into the Gentile world.
How to read this account
Church Recognition
St. Barnabas is venerated by the whole Church as an apostle, with his feast kept on June 11 on the General Roman Calendar; the monastery itself is a historic foundation of the Church of Cyprus that today functions as a museum, while the traditional tomb nearby remains a place of Christian veneration.
Catholic Teaching
Veneration at the tombs of the apostles expresses the Church's apostolic foundation (CCC 857) and the ancient Christian practice of honoring the relics and resting places of the martyrs (CCC 1674).
Go Deeper
Read the apostle's story in the Acts of the Apostles (chapters 4, 9, 11-15), the Catechism on the Church's apostolic character (CCC 857), and standard guides to the Christian antiquities of Cyprus for the history of the tomb's discovery under Archbishop Anthemius.
Useful before you go
Plan Your Visit
The Pilgrim’s Quick Card
- Ideal stay
- Half Day Allow 2-4 hours for the tomb, church, and prayer
- Best months
- Apr-May & Oct-Nov Comfortable temperatures for walking
- Nearest airport
- Larnaca (LCA) Best major gateway for the region
- Language & currency
- Greek/Turkish · Euro (€) English availability varies; major shrines often assist
- Feast day
- June 11
- Accessibility
- Good Main shrine areas are generally manageable; verify locally
Plan the trip
How Long Should I Stay?
Half Day is a practical amount of time for Monastery of St. Barnabas. Allow 2-4 hours for the tomb, church, and prayer.
- Minimum: Half Day for the principal shrine or church and personal prayer.
- Recommended: Half Day so you can include Mass, the main devotional focus, and time to explore without rushing.
- Extended stay: Add a second day for a slower pace and nearby sacred sites.
Pilgrim Tip: Leave at least one unscheduled block for quiet prayer; pilgrimage sites often become most meaningful after the checklist is finished.
Best Time to Visit
Best Overall
Apr-May & Oct-Nov
Comfortable temperatures for walking.
Peak Periods
Major feast days, school holidays, summer weekends, and organized diocesan pilgrimages can bring larger crowds. Book lodging and transportation earlier if your dates overlap a major celebration.
For a Quieter Pilgrimage
Choose a weekday outside the busiest holiday period and arrive early in the day.
Feast Day
June 11 can be a particularly meaningful time to visit, but expect larger crowds and special schedules.
Pilgrim Tip: Always check the shrine calendar before booking; the most spiritually rich dates are often also the busiest.
Getting There From the United States
Best Gateway: Larnaca (LCA)
For most pilgrims traveling from the United States, Larnaca (LCA) is the most practical arrival point. Best major gateway for the region.
From the airport, continue toward Famagusta by the most practical combination of rail, bus, rental car, taxi, or pre-arranged transfer. For remote shrines, a private transfer or rental car is often simpler than piecing together local connections.
Typical U.S. Routing
United States -> Larnaca (LCA) -> Famagusta -> Monastery of St. Barnabas
Our recommendation: Compare total travel time, not airfare alone. A slightly more expensive flight that removes a long ground transfer can make a pilgrimage much easier.
On the ground
Getting Around
You generally do not need a car once you are near Monastery of St. Barnabas. The sacred site and its immediate historic center can usually be explored on foot, with local buses or taxis available for longer transfers.
A rental car is most useful if this stop is part of a wider regional pilgrimage.
Good to Know: Historic districts may restrict traffic or have limited parking, so check your lodging's arrival instructions in advance.
Where to Stay
Choose lodging in the most walkable part of Famagusta, ideally within a short walk or simple transit ride of Monastery of St. Barnabas. That makes it easier to attend Mass and return for prayer without losing time in traffic.
Best For Pilgrims
- Historic-center lodging near the church or shrine
- Religious guesthouses when available
- Hotels near a major transit stop
- Accessible lodging if your group has mobility needs
Pilgrim Tip: Check the actual walking route, not just the map distance; old cities can include steep streets, stairs, or cobblestones.
Accessibility
The main worship and visitor areas at Monastery of St. Barnabas are generally manageable for most pilgrims, though historic thresholds, paving, or side chapels may still create barriers. Accessibility services and entrances can change, so verify current arrangements before traveling.
Pilgrim Tip: If mobility is a concern, choose lodging and transportation that minimize unnecessary walking.
What to do
Most Important Things to Do
Venerate the Saint or Relics
Visitors may tour the former monastery church and its icon and archaeology collections and pray at the small mausoleum chapel over the traditional tomb of St. Barnabas a short walk away; the apostle's feast is celebrated on June 11.
Allow: 30-60 minutes for prayer before moving through the rest of the site.
Attend Mass
If Mass is offered during your visit, make it the center of the pilgrimage rather than an add-on. Check the official shrine or parish schedule shortly before traveling.
Understand the Devotion
Read a short life of the saint before arriving, then pray for the grace to imitate the virtue most associated with that saint.
Explore the Church and Grounds
Look for the principal chapel, altar, crypt, museum, gardens, historic rooms, or pilgrimage route connected with the site. Allow another 45-90 minutes where available.
Pilgrim Tip: Arrive early or stay later than large tour groups when possible; the atmosphere is often much quieter.
Suggested Pilgrimage Itinerary
Half-Day Pilgrimage
- Begin at Monastery of St. Barnabas and spend time in quiet prayer.
- Attend Mass if the schedule aligns with your visit.
- Visit the principal shrine, tomb, relic, apparition site, or historic chapel.
- Go to Confession when available.
- Finish with another short period of prayer before leaving.
Have more time? Add other churches and sacred sites in Famagusta.
Mass, Confession & Prayer
When the church is active, Mass is the best way to place the saint's witness within the life of the Church. Confession, Adoration, and devotions vary by community.
Use the current schedule provided by the shrine, parish, diocese, or religious community shortly before visiting.
Pilgrim Tip: Avoid building your itinerary around an old fixed Mass time. Liturgical schedules can change seasonally and on feast days.
Practical
What to Bring
Pilgrimage Essentials
- Rosary
- Small Bible or prayer book
- Written prayer intentions
- Journal and pen
- Reusable water bottle
Practical Items
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Small backpack
- Portable phone charger
- Modest clothing for churches
- Payment card plus a small amount of Euro (€)
Pilgrim Tip: Pack lightly enough that you can spend the day walking and praying without managing unnecessary gear.
Before You Go
Before leaving:
- ✓ Check current opening hours
- ✓ Check Mass and Confession information
- ✓ Write down your prayer intentions
- ✓ Confirm airport and ground transportation
- ✓ Check the weather
- ✓ Pack comfortable walking shoes
- ✓ Confirm accessibility needs in advance
- ✓ Carry appropriate church clothing
- ✓ Leave room for quiet prayer
Most Important: Do not experience Monastery of St. Barnabas only as a historic attraction. Make time for prayer, the sacraments when available, and the devotion or biblical event that gives the place its meaning.
Additional Information
Visitors may tour the former monastery church and its icon and archaeology collections and pray at the small mausoleum chapel over the traditional tomb of St. Barnabas a short walk away; the apostle's feast is celebrated on June 11.
Official Information
Check the shrine, parish, diocese, or custodian's official website for current opening hours, liturgies, closures, and pilgrimage notices.
Currency
Cyprus uses Euro (€). Carry a payment card plus a small amount of local cash for offerings, small cafés, or local transport.
Local Language
Greek/Turkish is the principal language for this destination. English availability varies, but major international shrines often have multilingual staff or printed material.
Religious Etiquette
Dress respectfully, silence phones during prayer and Mass, avoid photographing worshippers at close range, and follow any local rules around relics, tombs, confessionals, or restricted chapels.
Pilgrim travel note: Mass times, opening hours, costs, accessibility, and local conditions can change. Please confirm important details directly with the shrine and your providers before you travel. Travel Disclaimer
Travel with a group
Prefer to travel with a group?
No guided pilgrimages that include Monastery of St. Barnabas are listed yet. Many parishes and dioceses organize their own trips, so ask at yours.
Information & sources
Mass times, admission and travel requirements change. Confirm them with the official source before you visit.
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