Places
Aghios Nikolaos (St. Nicholas) (Kyriakoselia)
The church of St. Nicholas is at the foot of the hill where the early Byzantine Castle controlling the Souda Bay stands. The church was built in the 11th century and initially was a one-isle church with an arched roof and probably a cupola. Then, in the 13th century, after various modifications, the church became […]
Panagia Zerviotissa (Mother Mary of the Left Hand) (Stylos)
Just outside Stylos, within its citrus orchards, stands the 12th century church of Panagia Zerviotissa, also known as ‘Monastira’. This is a cruciform church with an eight-sided cupola and its floor plan echoes of a three-aisled basilica. Although hardly anything of the mural decorations have survived, the church is truly impressive.
Agios Ioannis Theologos (St. John the Divine) (Stylos)
This 12th century two-aisled church is dedicated to St. John the Divine (Theologos) and St. Nicholas. Initially there was only one aisle, and an arched roof, but later a second aisle was added. There are murals dating back to the 13th century, and the one that stands out is the depiction of St. John the […]
The church of Agios Georgios (St. George) & Agios Haralampos (St. Charalampus) (Therissos)
This is a two aisled Byzantine church with an arched roof, dedicated to St. George and St. Charalampus. Its wall decorations are not very well preserved.
Zoodochos Pigi (Life-giving Font) (Alikianos)
The church of Zoodochos Pigi (Life-giving Font) is also known as Ai kyr-Yiannis, from the name of its donor, Ioannis Xenos. It was built in 1030 and it is a cross-in-square church with a cupola. The internal decoration is in two layers. The first one dates back to the 11th century and was recently revealed […]
Koimisi tis Theotokou (Dormition of Mother Mary) (Agia)
The church of the Dormition (Koimisis tis Theotokou) seen today was built on the ruins of the early Christian Basilica of the 5th century. During the 10th or 11th century it was rebuilt and became the Diocese of Kydonia and Apokoronos.
Agiou Georgiou (St. George) Monastery
A short while before arriving at Vryses, within a lush landscape of olive groves, there is the Monastery of St. George of Karydi; According to documents of 1600, it was named after a small hamlet called Karydi which used to stand here (walnut). During the Ottoman occupation it was conceded as a dependency to the […]
Agiou Ioanni (St. John) Monastery (Aptera)
At a central spot in the ancient city of Aptera, which was erected and flourished in the 3rd and 4th centuries B.C., there is the Monastery of St. John the Divine (Theologos), a dependency of the Monastery of St. John on the island of Patmos. There is a reference to dependence as early as 1181 […]
Prodromou (St. John the Baptist) Monastery at Korakies
The Monastery of St. John the Baptist at Korakies has existed since the period of Venetian and used to be a convent. The Catholicon, which is being restored, has two aisles and stands in the centre of the long monastery cloisters. The Church has been extended many times with changes that adulterated its original style. […]
Agiou Ioanni tou Erimiti (St. John the Hermit) Monastery (Catholicon)
The visit to Guverneto offers travellers the opportunity to view two interesting Christian monuments in the area. North of the monastery a stony downhill path leads to the Cave of Arkoudiotissa (Bear Lady). The name comes from a stalagmite in the form of a bear and within the cave traces of Goddess Artemis [Diana] worship […]
