Places
Metamorfoseos Sotiros (Transfiguration of the Redeemer) Convent
The Convent of the Transfiguration of the Saviour is situated on Koumbes hill, just outside the centre of Rethymno. This is a women’s convent founded in 1935, originally as a church, by Vassalos, an elder of Mount Athos. Since 1970, buildings began being erected around the church, which was gradually converted into a Convent. The […]
Arsaniou Monastery
An old men’s monastery, located 12km east of Rethymno, in the Pangalochori community, possibly founded during the 2nd Byzantine period (961-1204). It was founded by a monk named Arsenios, after whom it was named. According to the most likely version of events, it was deserted at one point due to pirates causing problems to coastal […]
Agia Irini (St. Irene) Convent
The convent located near Rethymno was probably founded by Byzantine ascetics who lived as nuns in caves within the region. During the period of Venetian rule, the convent owned extensive land and operated throughout the period of Ottoman rule until the revolution of 1821, when it began to shrink. It subsequently underwent a long period […]
Arkadi Monastery
Arkadi Monatery is perhaps the best known monastery on Crete due to the Holocaust of 1866. However, its location and impressive architecture make it all the more special. It is a large fortified complex built during the end of the period of Venetian rule. Apart from the monks’ cells, the central building also includes warehouses, […]
Holy Metropolis of Rethymno and Avlopotamos
The former provinces of Rethymno and Mylopotamos comprise the Holy Metropolis of Rethymno and Avlopotamos. The first Dioceses of the region were first established in the 5th century AD. Minutes of the 3rd and 4th Ecumenical Council mention the Dioceses of Lampe and Eleftherna. Another Diocese located in an ancient city was the Diocese of […]
Archangelos Michail (Archangel Michael) (Aradena)
At the edge of the Aradena Gorge, in Sfakia, lies a deserted hamlet of the same name, where the church of Archangel Michael or Astratigos – as Sfakia residents call him – stands. It is a cruciform church with a six-sided cupola with several features of the School of mainland Greece (Helladic), built on the […]
Osia Maria Egyptia (Holy Maria from Egypt) Church (Samaria)
Half way down into the Samaria Gorge lies the deserted village of the same name. Here stands the Byzantine Church of Osia Maria from Egypt, which gave the gorge its name (osiamaria=samaria). This is a one-aisled, arch-roofed church with 14th century murals.
Early Christian Basilica (Agia Roumeli)
The ruins of a three-aisled basilica with a wooden roof and a narthex, built on the ruins of an older church. Within the sanctum there is a one-aisled, arch-roofed church with 15th century murals, now well-preserved. As in most early Christian basilicas, there is a mosaic floor dating from the 6th century with geometric shapes […]
Agioi Apostoloi (Holy Apostles) (Chora Sfakion)
A 15th century Byzantine church, which was for many years the most impressive church of the Chora of Sfakia; it used to be visible from every point of the town, as it is built on a hill. The bell tower was added later, in 1900.
Agios Panteleimon (St. Pantaleon) (Chora Sfakion)
This is the two-aisled cathedral of the Chora of Sfakia. It is dedicated to St. Panteleimon and St. Nicholas. The first aisle dates to the 17th or 18th century, while the second one, according to the inscription above the gate, was erected in 1817.
