The Apostolos Andreas Monastery is one of the important places to visit and votive offerings on the Karpaz Peninsula. The monastery, located on the Zafer Cape, is dedicated to Apostolos Andreas, who is known as the Creator of Miracles, Ruler of the Winds and Protector of Travelers. All information about Apostolos Andreas, who gave his name to the monastery, is based on sacred sources. He was first a fisherman and later called an apostle to spread Christianity. Since he was the first person to be called to the apostleship, he was given the religious title O Protoklidos, meaning the first called.
After a while, he embarked on a long journey that included the Black Sea, Marmara, Macedonia and Thessaly regions. After this journey, he settled in the ancient city of Patras on the Peloponnese Peninsula and was hanged to an olive tree here at the age of 80.
According to a story, the ship he boarded on his way to Jerusalem ran out of water and the captain of the ship, who was blind in one eye, was wondering how to find water when Apostolos Andreas told him that he could find water where the monastery is today. The passengers who went ashore found the water in the said place and the blind eyes of the captain who drank from the water began to see. Thereupon, the people on the ship wanted to reward Apostolos Andreas by giving him valuable items. However, Apostolos Andreas did not accept any of these valuable items, and in return, the captain and the ship's crew adopted Christianity. Later, the captain of the ship took a very valuable icon of Apostolos Andreas in Jerusalem and placed it next to the water wells, and as a result, Apostolos Andreas was accepted as a place of sacrifice. Thanks to this, the Apostolos Andreas Monastery is considered sacred by the Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots.
It has been a tradition for years to visit the monastery between August 15 and November 30, and it is believed that if the helpless make a vow to the monastery, their wishes will come true. Those whose wishes come true leave their wax or metal eye, ear, hand and child-shaped votive offerings next to the Apostolos Andreas icon, depending on the type of illness.
Among the votive offerings made to the Apostolos Andreas Monastery are money, gold, silver and other ornaments, and those who cannot come to the monastery throw olive oil in a bottle into the sea from the nearest place. It is believed that if this is done, Apostolos Andreas, who is also believed to rule the winds, will sooner or later deliver the bottles thrown into the sea to the monks in the monastery.