Cave
Agia Kyriaki (St. Kyriake) (Voritsi)
The church of St. Kyriake was built in 1901 by an ascetic named ‘Mose’, who lived in the cave located next to the church.
Agia Fotini (St. Photine) Avdou
The cave of Agia Fotini is located outside the village of Avdou. The entrance features a screen and a narrow corridor leads to the cave hall where the church of Agia Fotini is located. This cave served as a hideout for residents of the region during the Cretan Revolutions.
Agia Ypakoe (Holy Obedience) Monastery (Sykologos)
During Saracen raids, the residents of the area hid in a cave beside the ruins of Agia Ypakoe Monastery. The monastery was completely destroyed and has not been active since then. According to tradition, after its destruction, one of its monks founded Panagia Keralimeniotissa Monastery in Faflagos.
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 […]
Holy Monastery of Exakousti
The Monastery of Exakousti [‘the Renowned’] is located in the northwest part of the province of Ierapetra between the settlements of Anatoli and Malles. Compared with other monasteries in the vicinity, such as the All-Holy Virgin of Armos at Malles and the All-Holy Virgin the Karydiani [‘of the Walnuts’] at Mythoi, it is a relatively […]
Holy Monastery of Faneromeni at Ierapetra
The monastery, which celebrates on the Dormition of the Theotokos, is located on the north side of Mount Stavros, a steep elevation west of the archaeological area of Gournies. Its foundation date is unknown even though non-extant sources mention it already at the end of the 13th century, connecting it with the revolution of the […]
St. John’s Cave (Spileo Agiou Ioanni) (Azogyre)
The Byzantine hamlet, where traces from the Hellenistic and Roman periods have been found, is associated with St. John the Hermit, one of the Fathers who lived like a hermit in the cave of the hamlet.
The Cave of God’s Wisdom (Spileo tis Theou Sophias) (Koutsomatado – Topolia)
The small church of St. Sophia is situated in the cave of the same name, on the west bank of Topolia Gorge, and comprises two halls on two levels.
The Cave of St. John the Hermit (Spileo Agiou Ioanni tou Erimiti) (Marathokefala)
The Cave of St. John the Hermit is situated near Marathokefala, a little higher than the bed of Avlaki gorge. It is richly decorated with numerous stalactites and stalagmites. This is where St. John the Hermit, the founder of the Catholicon Monastery lived for three years. He led an ascetic life in the nude for […]
