⭐ 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 George Monastery in Vrachasi

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The monastery of Agios Georgios in Vrachasi is located 1km southwest of the village Vrachasi, near Neapolis. The monastery has actively participated in the revolutionary movements against the Turks, during which it suffered tremendous damages.

Hypapante monastery at Habatha

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The small monastery of Hypapante (Presentation of Jesus at the Temple) operated at the site of Champatha (Kissamos province), with spectacular views to the surrounding areas. We still see remnants of monk cells and caves where they lived. Above the church, we see the cavernous chapel of Transfiguration of the Christ, accessed only on foot.

Saint Theodore monastery

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The Holy monastery of St. Theodore is located on the road that leads to the University Hospital of Heraklion. The nunnery was founded by Timothy Tzannis in around 1980.

Early Christian Basilica of Agia Sofia at Panormo

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The basilica was excavated in 1948 by K. Kalokyris and N. Platon, and was built in the 5th-6th century, like most seaside basilicas of that era. It was violently destroyed by Arab invasion in the 7th century, but continued to be used till the 9th century.

Agios Charalambos Monastery at Fragokastelo

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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.

Early Christian Basilica of Kolokitha

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Very close to the beach Kolokitha we meet the ruins of an early Christian basilica (5-6th century) that came to light in 1971 by the archaeologist Manolis Borboudakis. There is also a tiny lovely beach aside. We see scattered pieces of marble capitals, the pulpit and the gates, and the mosaic floors that have been completely destroyed by the sea.

Saint John monastery at Gionas

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The monastery of Saint John is located at Cape Rodopou (or Spatha), 37km northwest of Chania and 9.5km away from the village Rodopou, at a small plateau named Giona. With the nearby former monastery of Peter and Paul, a few kilometers north, they flourished during the late Venetian Era. After the conquest of Crete by the Turks both monasteries were handed to the powerful monastery Hodeghetria Gonia.

Church of the Zoodohos Pigi at Drakonero

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The Church of the Zoodohos Pigi (Life Giving Fountain) at position Drakonero functioned as a monastery during the Venetian period. It is the largest cruciform church with a dome of Crete (of that era). Inside the church there is one of the nicest arcosolium (Venetian tomb) of the 16th century with coat of arms of Tzangarolo family. A part of the frescoes still survives (Peter and Paul, Our Lady enthroned etc).

Asceticism

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