Agios
Ioannis

The small single-nave arched temple of Mary of Egypt is located in the Samaria deserted settlement, inside the imposing gorge of Samaria, accessed by a short path. According to one option, the name of the Samaria Canyon derives from the corruption of the name of Osia Maria (Saint Mary). The church celebrates on April 1st, when several mountaineering clubs of Crete participate in the festival.

The church of Saint George (Agios Georgios) is located near the monastery Panagia Thymiani, in the periphery of Komitades village, province Sfakia. It consists of the original single-storey 14th-century arched-roofed temple, to which an extension was added, the roof of which has now collapsed.

The church of Agia Paraskevi is located southeast of the village Argoules, above the small stream that ends on the beautiful beach of Agia Marina. It is a small single - nave, arched temple that has undergone a draft and inappropriate restoration with cement, as the southern wall had collapsed and its murals were in danger.

Between Loutro Sfakion and the famous beach of Glyka Nera, at Perlovakia, we meet the white brushed chapel of the Holy Cross (Timios Stavros) where a big feast takes place on September 14th every year.

Among the greenhouses of Fragokastelo plain and above Orthi Ammos beach we meet the abandoned small monastery of Agios Haralambos. It is said that there settled in 1821 the monks Gregory and Magdalene, although it is believed that the monastery is much older.

The monastery of Panagia Thymiani is located near Sfakia at position Thyme Armi and is one of the most historic sites in Crete. Here on May 29, 1821, the chieftains of Crete preached revolution against the Ottoman Empire. Therefore, the monastery is also called Agia Lavra of Crete (Agia Lavra is a monastery in Peloponnese from where the great Greek Revolution of 1821 started, leading to the liberation of Greece).

One of the most important Byzantine monuments is located in the gorge of Samaria, at the site of a former a temple of town Tarra (1st century AD). The initial church was a three-nave basilica and today what we see is the Byzantine church that was built in place of the initial.

Saint Paul is a very old Byzantine church that was built at the place Selouda. The church is on the spot where Saint Paul reportedly baptized people on his way to Rome. It is a very picturesque small church, built on the beach using stones from the beach itself. This is why it is not easy to see the church from far.