Agios Trypiotis (Archangel Michael Trypiotis Church), Nicosia

Tucked into a side street just off bustling Onasagorou Street in the heart of Nicosia’s old town, the Archangel Michael Trypiotis Church stands as one of the capital's finest examples of Franco-Byzantine architecture and spiritual heritage. Built in 1695 under Ottoman rule, the church was commissioned by Archbishop Germanos II, with financial contributions from Priest Iakovos and the local Christian community. Its name, Trypiotis-meaning maker of the hole-alludes to the legend of Archangel Michael miraculously saving a monastery from destruction by striking the ground and opening a chasm to divert a torrent.

The present church was erected over the remains of earlier religious structures, including a Gothic church and an Orthodox abbey dating back to the Lusignan and Venetian periods. Traces of these older buildings still survive-such as lintels, coats of arms, and symbolic reliefs-blending eras and traditions into the stonework. The current layout follows a three-aisled, domed basilica plan, its dome nearly square, evoking a sense of sturdy symmetry. Its smooth calcarenite stone façade, combined with a distinct bell tower, gives it an appearance that hints at both a place of worship and a medieval fortress.

The church’s interior is richly decorated, featuring a wide, carved wooden iconostasis made in the 18th century by the artisan Taliadoros, and an icon of Archangel Michael dating back to 1634. Other notable treasures include icons in silver from the Ottoman period, a printed Gospel, and wall frescoes from 1741, one of which depicts the miraculous act of Archangel Michael creating the protective chasm. An additional highlight is an Italian-influenced icon said to echo the style of 15th-century paintings.

Once frequented by Nicosia’s upper class, the church remains an important cultural and spiritual hub. So significant is the church’s presence that the entire Trypiotis Quarter of Nicosia takes its name from it, anchoring the area’s identity in centuries of history, devotion, and architectural splendor.