Very close to Nicosia among lush forests, is one of the most famous active Orthodox monasteries of Cyprus – monastery of Machaira. Its name he received because of the miraculous icon of the Mother of God Makaritis, which translates as "knife". According to the legend, the icon painted by St. Luke, was brought to Cyprus from Constantinople during the time of iconoclasm and hidden in the mountains. For a long time, nobody knew where she was. But in the XII century two monks-hermits Ignatius neophytou and managed to find the cave, which served as a hiding place for the icon. To get through the dense thickets in the cave, the monks used a knife found nearby. Since the Greek word for "knife" sounds like "Maher", the icon itself and the monastery, built on the site of the cave, and were called the Machaira.

Funds for the construction of the monastery at the request of a Neophyte, and Ignatius was allocated by the Emperor of Constantinople, Manuel Comnenus first put a small chapel, and over time, in that place, a whole complex with a Church, residential and farm buildings, which were actively developed. In addition, Machaira received the status of the stavropegic, i.e. independent of the local dioceses, and subordinated directly to the Patriarch.

Unfortunately, two large-scale fire – 1530-m and 1892 he almost completely destroyed the monastery, managed to save only a famous icon of the Mother of God. Burned even the same knife with which she was found. Gradually, however, the Machaira, though slowly, but recovering. Rebuilt it was only 1900.

After Cyprus gained independence in 1960, the monastery life will get better – all the buildings were renovated, new chapels and churches. Also there was a monument to Grigory Afksentiu – "the eagle Maher", the hero of Cyprus the days of the struggle against the British colonialists.

At this point in the Machaira is home to several dozen monks who are engaged in agriculture.