⭐ 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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Church of Saint Paraskevi at Koulbado

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One of the most important churches used in the past for burying unbaptized babies is located by Kritsa, at position Koulbado. This temple is also very important as it is a single-aisle temple, probably built in the Byzantine Era (indicated by the typical ceramic bricks met in Byzantine churches).

Church of Panagia Kryoneririssa

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The church of Panagia Kryoneritissa is situated at an altitude of 1100m on Mount Kedros and belongs to the parish of village Vrysses. It takes its name (meaning Virgin Mary of Cold Water) after the nearby springs. It is a single-nave barrel-vaulted church dedicated to Zoodochos Pigi (Life Giving Spring) and bears interesting reliefs on the carved stone of the entrance.

Church of Saints Nicholas and Charalambos at Miliarisi

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The cemeterial temple of St Nikolaos and St Charalambos at MIliarisi is very special because it is dikonchos (double-niche), a type that is rare. The type of dikonchos church differs from the two-aisled as there is a common roof for both aisles, without interference of wall between the aisles.

Church of Christ the Savior at Stamni

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In the center of the village Stamni dominates the impressive three-aisled and cross-shaped church of Christ the Savior, which is dedicated to the Transfiguration of Christ, St. Catherine and St. Paraskevi. The temple dates back from the 13th century and retains some traces of murals.

Church of Zoodohos Pigi at Rouma

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Near the villages Alagni, on a low hill, lies the deserted village of Rouma. We do not know when it was founded, but it is referred in the census of 1630. Rouma in the Cretan dialect means stream and is taken after the stream next to the village, where a spring with fresh water flows all year round.

Saint Catherine Church at Kandanos

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One of the many old churches that adorn the village of Kandanos is St Catherine celebrating on November 25. It is a very old church. For years he was semi-ruined and without ceiling, therefore the frescoes got severely damaged. In recent years the Mayor of Kandanos restored the temple and its courtyard. The floor of the church is about one meter below the road level and this has resulted in serious problems with floods. Externally there is no plaster.

Panagia Church at Kassani

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The Church of the Annunciation (Panagia) at Kassani, Pediada, is a small, single-nave and vaulted temple. It's interior bears frescoes of the Palaeologean School of the 14th century.

Saint Marina Church at Agii Deka

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The church of Agia Marina (celebr. July 17) by Agii Deka is a single-nave vaulted temple daing back from the 9th century (today it has been restored). The church bears traces of frescoes.

Asceticism

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