The UNESCO Chair on Digital Cultural Heritage at the Digital Heritage Research Lab and its Research Center Mnemosyne at the Cyprus University of Technology are proud to announce a major breakthrough from the EU Digital Europe project EUreka3D-XR. The 12th-century Enkleistra of Saint Neophytos together with Saint Neophytos the Recluse himself – is brought to life through high-quality 3D digitization, advanced Artificial Intelligence, and cutting-edge VR/XR technologies.

For the first time in Europe, this pioneering work goes beyond the concept of a Digital Twin to introduce a “Memory Twin” – a transformative approach where cultural heritage is not only digitally replicated but enriched with knowledge, narratives, and lived experiences. In this context, the project marks a defining moment: when a monument truly “talks,” sharing its history, meaning, and cultural significance through advanced immersive technologies. This outstanding innovation was made possible through a collaboration between MIRALab in Geneva and the Digital Heritage Research Lab at the Cyprus University of Technology, both partners of the project.

This milestone demonstration will be presented to the public on the 24th May 2026 at 10:00 am (after the liturgy), on site at the Enkleistra of the Monastery in Tala, Paphos. The event will precede the EUreka3D-XR Final Conference and forms part of the Digital Heritage Summit 2026, taking place in Limassol, Cyprus, from 26–29 May 2026, under the auspices of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

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EUreka3D-XR project is co-financed by the Digital Europe Programme of the European Union.