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| Pict. 39 Cross for consecrating holy water, 1710.
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The cross for the consecration of water of 1710, known as "Cross of the Mavri'' (Black Woman) is more impressive
both in size and ornaments. It has a wood-carved centre decorated with representations from the life of Jesus. It has
a silver frame enriched with threaded, speckled and cast ornaments, enamels, pearls, corals, turquoise and stones
from glassware in the Ottoman style. It was made on the instruction of the Abbot Ioannikios with donations from
Konteans, Mamoneans, Balasis, Chrysanthos, Benizelos, Theocharis, Ioannes, Georgakis, Palaeologos, Demetrakis.
According to tradition, during the Turkish period it was taken away from the Monastery but it was returned to it by a
non-Christian black woman and since then it has been called "Cross of the Mavri'' (picture 39).
The Monastery of Kykkos, in spite of the four destructions it had undergone because of fire, continues to preserve in
its vestries many church vestments and other fabrics of the post-byzantine period. Representative samples from these are
exhibited in the Museum.
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