⭐ Travel Guide for Island Crete ⛵, Greece❗

The arrival of Saint John the Hermit in Crete of the Early Christian Times was the beginning of a great ascetic tradition that continues to the present day. Hundreds of hermits secluded in the most remote parts of the island, forming ascetic communities that later evolved to thriving monasteries. Hundreds of countryside monasteries, most of which don't operate today, are dispersed throughout the island.

A special sample of hermitage is the Monastery Katholiko at Akrotiri Cape in the caves of which hermits lived their monastic life away, from worldly pleasures. Equally important were the religious sites of the secluded peninsulas Gramvousa and Rodopos, where several small monasteries developed.

The greatest hermitage of all was the naturally isolated, and impassable range of Asterousia in southern Heraklion. Hundreds of caves from Saint Nikitas to Cape Lithino still host hermits. Relations between them were so limited that in Agiofarago and Martsalo they gathered only once a year, in cave Goumenospilio and counted how many of them survived each year.

In eastern Crete, the north province of Mirabello is the largest field of asceticism with dozens of small monastic establishments. Here hermits built small monasteries, where they usually lived alone.

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Saint Eftychios church at Chromonastiri

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The church was recently restored by the Archaeological Service and is now open to the public. The temple was built in the Middle Byzantine period on the site of an earlier basilica of the 3rd AD century, parts of which were later incorporated the church. On the sides four rooms were built, so the final shape of the temple is rectangular.

Church of Saint Charalambos at Sfakia

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East of Sfakia, on the beach of Ammoudi, above Ammoudi we meet the church of Agios Haralambos. This is a typical cavernous chapel of the coasts and inland of Sfakia province. It is quite spacious because it is built in a relatively large cave. The location of the cave can be accessed via a short path that starts from the beach, but there is also a road that reaches the place.

Timios Stavros Church at Kalamafka

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Kalamafka is one of the most beautiful mountain villages of Ierapetra and Crete, generally. The village is famous for its rich waters that gush literally everywhere throughout its territory. It is also known for its unique limestone formations that have given it the name ''Meteora' of' Crete. One of these rock formations, probably the most famous of all, is Kastellos, located in the center of the village.

Analipsis church at Elounda

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The Monastery of the Ascension is located at Poros of Elounda, at the site of the ancient town of Olous, today submerged in the lagoon. On Ascension Day the locals revive a weird custom. Women from Elounda enter the sea and collect bunches of seaweed and stones, which symbolize the stability of life.

Saint Nektarios Monastery at Anogia

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The Monastery of Saint Nektarios at Anogia is a female modern monastery built in a beautiful wooded location with nice view to the neighborhood Perahori of Anogia town.

Saint John Farangitis monastery at Almiros

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The Church of St. Anthony was the main church of the former monastery of St. John Farangitis (i.e. Canyoner) that flourished in the period 1350-1669, during the Venetian Era.

Church of Panagia at Fodele

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The church saves two layers of frescoes. The oldest layer is located in the west corner dates back to the 11th century. The frescoes of the south part of the corss dates back to 1323.

Cave of Saint Gerasimos at Modi

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Two km south of the village Modi by Platanias (Chania) we meet is the cavernous chapel of St. Gerasimos. The location of this beautiful cave is accessed via dirt road that starts from Modi (there are information signs). The cave is located on a hillside that is covered by an ancient olive grove.The temple is built inside the cave, is spacious and has a courtyard along a long rock shelter.

Asceticism

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