Asceticism

The church of St. John is located at a wooded location amid oaks near the village Roukani and is one of the most historical Byzantine monuments of Crete. The church dates back from the 11th-12th century and possibly operated as a monastery dedicated to St. John the Theologian. Today the church is dedicated to St. John the Baptist.

It is located very close to the road and south of the village in a remote place with many caves. The small church is at the starting point of a small ravine that ends at a steep beach. The colors on the walls are white with some touches of blue in some places reminding of a Cycladic island.

A small, single-nave, barrel vaulted church that is located on the south side of the square, which has the same name. The church dates back to the period of the Venetian Rule, more specifically to the 15th century. There are two entrances, one on the west and one on the north, with ornate Venetian aedicules. On the monolithic lintel of the north entrance, there are two elaborate spirals. Just in front of the Altar, there is a tomb, whose owner is unknown.

The church of Santa Barbara is a single-vaulted church with. There are ruins of the medieval buildings around the monastery. The best preserved building is the elongated two-storey building in the west. It is preserved in good condition with a vaulted ground floor, while the floor is semi ruined.

The church of St George is a three aisled basilica with a raised middle aisle. Its foundation dates back from the 13th to 14th century and is the largest frescoed church of Archanes. During the last renovation (18th-19th century) the gradients of the roof were decreased and altered its form.

The church of Agios Georgios is located at Therisso, Chania province. It is a double-nave church dating from 1555, with the second aisle dedicated to Saint Charalambos. The walls are adorned with very interesting frescoes.

The church of the Archangel Michael is located in the center of the village Monastiraki (Amari province) and is a single-nave vaulted church of the 14th century. The south side is adorned with three arches and the entrance bears superimposed Gothic arches. The frescoes have not survived in good condition (only the representation of the Conception of Mary is still visible), while the bell bears an inscription with the date 1601.

The cavernous two-aisled church of Saint Charalambos and Saint Nicholas is located in the village Skotino, Province Pediada and has unobstructed sea views. Internally, because of being carved, it has an irregular shape and the two aisles are joined together with a large arch.