⭐ 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 Nikolaos monastery at Skourvoula

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The Monastery of Agios Nikolaos is a small dependency of Vrondisi monastery, built on Mount Sanida above the village Skourvoula. The old ruined monastery was restored by the monk Iosif Androulakis and reoperated in 2014. The interior of the temple is adorned with nice modern frescoes, while from the courtyard one can admire the nice view to the shores of Messara.

Church of Saint George at Kamariotis

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The church of Agios Georgios at village Kamariotis is a triple-aisled basilica of the 16th century with a dome and an outer narthex. The doorway of the narthex is richly decorated with the Lion of St. Mark (the symbol of Venice) and the crest of Kallergis, one of the strongest Cretan families who had special privileges from the Venetians.

Christ Church at Kastelli

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At the village Kastelli, province Pediada, we meet the very old church of Christ. The temple bears Venetian frescoes of great artistic value.

Church of Lord Christ at Dories

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The cemeterial church of Lord Christ the Savor (celebr. August 6) at Dories was probably the temple of a monastery of the Venetian Era. The church is a single-aisled, vaulted temple built of stones of varying sizes. Next to it we see two stone buildings (monk cells?) and a tank.

Church of Panagia Kera at Tylissos

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The church of Panagia Kera at Tylisos is a single-aisled church with a dome of the 11th century. The church maintains its basic original features (it has undergone a few alterations though). It is dedicated to the Nativity of Mary (September 8).

Saint Paraskevi church at Platani

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At Platani near Souda we meet the small and picturesque church of Agia Paraskevi. The temple is located on a dewy location almost on the main axis of North Crete and hosts one of the most popular feasts of Chania.

Church of Christ the Savior at Tylissos

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The single-aisled vaulted church of Jesus Christ in the old central Square of Tylissos has undergone alterations through the centuries. It’s interior houses an arcosolium (funerary monument of the founder of the church) while there is an exceptional fountain with Arabic inscriptions embedded on its exterior wall.

Church of Archangel Michael at Vlahiana

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The church of the Archangel Michael at the deserted settlement of Vlahiana dates back from 1447 and is maintained in good condition. It is a double-aisled church with decors on the exterior of the entrance and a weird window at the back. There is a tomb of the founder of Vlahiana, Georgios Vlahos, who fighted against the Turks at the side of the Cretan hero Daskalogiannis.

Asceticism

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