Early Christian
Early Christian Basilica (Frangokastelo)
The ruins of a two-aisled, 6th century basilica with a narthex, dedicated to St. Charalampus and St. John the Divine (Theologos). On the site of the sanctum of this early Christian basilica, a church dedicated to Archangel Michael – whom the Sfakia residents call Astratigos, a corruption of the name Archistratigos, i.e. Commander- in- chief […]
Agios Nikitas (St. Nicetas) (Frangokastelo)
Northeast of Frangokastelo stands the 13th church of St. Niketas, built on the ruins of an early Christian Basilica. St. Niketas is a one-aisled church and was built with architectural members of the old basilica, including two marble pillars. The floor mosaic is also that of the old basilica.
Early Christian Basilica (Vizari)
It is an early Christian basilica situated just outside the hamlet at a location called Ellinika. It is a three-aisled basilica with a narthex and a wooden roof, dedicated to Mother Mary and St. Vlasius and St.Theodore. It dates from the 6th century and was altered during the 8th or 9th century. It was probably […]
The Basilica of Syvritos (Thronos)
The ruins of this early Christian basilica were discovered in 1983. It is a three-aisled church with a wooden roof and narthex, divided in three parts. The south aisle is from the 6th century and the east part from the 14th century. Mosaic floors are preserved in the church interior.
The Holy Metropolis of Lambi, Syvritos and Sfakia
The Metropolis comprises the former provinces of Agios Vaseilios, Amari and Sfakia. In other words, it covers a part of the city of Rethymnon and a part of the city of Chania. The Diocese of Syvritos, as confirmed by documents, had Bishops as early as the Early Christian Period, at the site of the ancient […]
Early Christian Basilica (Almyrida)
Just outside Almyrida there is a three-aisled basilica with a wooden roof, dating back to the second half of the 6th century. Its floor plan forms the letter T and its central aisle is covered by a mosaic floor, where a variety of motifs such as crosses, fish and intersecting circles can be viewed.
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.
St. Quiricus (Agios Kirikos or Ai Kirkos) at Lissos
About 3 km west of Sougia the city of Lissos flourished in Hellenistic and Roman years, until the early Byzantine period; there are traces of two basilicas that must have been built in these periods. The church of Mother Mary (Panagia) is built on the ruins of an early Christian basilica. The same is true […]
Churches at Sougia
The presence of at least three early Christian basilicas with exceptional mosaic floors from the 6th century indicates that the city existed during the first Byzantine period. It must have declined after the 7th century, but it is not known whether it was completely deserted. In any case, the church of St. Irene, dating back […]
Churches at Plemeniana
Near the hamlet there are traces of early Christian basilicas dating from the 5th and 6th centuries. Within the walls of the Church of Christ the Saviour (Soter), parts of an old early Christian basilica have been incorporated; Inscriptions have been preserved, the oldest of which bears the year 1362. In St. George’s Church there […]
