Agia Sofia Monastery in Armeni
Agia Sophia (Holy Wisdom) is an old abandoned monastery located on the plateau of Armenochantrades. The monastery is surrounded by walls and in the center there still stands the church of Hagia Sophia. All around there are the ruins of the monk cells and some renovated buildings.
We don’t know the date of establishing the monastery, but it is believed that it was founded in 1450-1500 probably by the family of Cornano. The monastery has been associated with Saint John Gerontoyannis, founder of Kapsas monastery, who repaired the monastery of Agia Sophia and placed some monks.
Timeline
- 15th century: The Monastery of St. Sophia is founded in Armeni.
- 1634: The monastery gets renovated.
- 1866: The monastery was destroyed by the Turks and Joseph Gerontoyannis starts repairing the buildings.
- 1870: Joseph returns to Kapsas monastery and the monastery gets deserted.
- 1870: The school is established with more than 100 students.
- 1884: The school stops its operation and the monk Gennadios Mytakis from Kapsas repairs Aghia Sofia.
- 1897: The Cretan rebels move the Ottomans from Etia to Aghia Sofia and kill them all.
- 1900: The monastery stops its operation and is granted to the monastery of Toplou.
- 1911: Aghia Sophia is granted to the parish of Armeni.
1.1 km
1.3 km
2.1 km
2.9 km
3.2 km
3.8 km
4.7 km
4.8 km
5.2 km
5.5 km
5.5 km
5.8 km
6.1 km
