The monastery of Saint Macarius, or as it is also called Syrup Magar, located near the town of Kyrenia (Girne), was built in the era of the Byzantine Empire Coptic (Christian) monks who came out of Egypt, in honor of Alexandria Martyr Makarios. The temple was erected on the edge of a cliff above a deep gorge.

In XIV-XV centuries during the reign of king John III (Janus) on the relations between Cyprus and Egypt there was a rift, so the monastery was subordinated to the Armenian Church. After that it was mainly used as a summer residence of monks and a place of rest for pilgrims heading to the Holy Land. However, the new owners began to slowly sell off belonging to Syrup Magar land, resulting in the monastery eventually fell into disrepair. Not saved the Church from ruin, and that in gratitude for the help in the war with the Venetians, the Ottomans, seized power on the island, freed the Armenian Church from taxes.

In 1814, the monastery was almost completely destroyed by a devastating earthquake. It was fully restored from the original building was only part of the wall on the East side, which stands out due to its high Gothic Windows. During the civil war, the monastery of St. Macarius has undergone significant damage, was left almost in ruins. Although some walls are still preserved drawings and inscriptions in Armenian. Now the island authorities have made significant efforts to restore it, trying to make him a popular cultural center.