⭐ 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.

Show Map

Church of Saint Paraskevi at Kamara

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 1.00 (1 Vote)

Near Kamara village in Kisamos Province, there is one well hidden treasure of Cretan countryside. It is the cavernous chapel of Agia Paraskevi, which is what remains of a small nunnery that was destroyed during the Turkish Era. There is a very big schinus, which is one of the oldest in Crete (there is one more in Chochlakies Gorge by Sitia).

Church of Saint John Gergianos

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 4.00 (2 Votes)

The church of St. John was built during the Venetian period in Crete and it probably was full of frescoes. The frescoes were unfortunately whitewashed. A few years ago the Archaeological Service uncovered some parts of the original hagiographic decoration. The walls however even today remain whitewashed.

Saint Demetrius church at Galifa

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 3.67 (3 Votes)

Saint Demetrius by Galifa operated as a monastery during the Venetian Era, as evidenced even today by the dispersed traces of monk cells around. The doorway is impressive with a relief representation of Saint Demetrius on horseback. The small monastery was a dependency of Agarathos monastery.

Saint Panteleimon Church at Houdetsi

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 4.00 (2 Votes)

Just outside the village Houdetsi and very close to the archaeological site of Vathypetro we meet the cavernous church of St. Panteleimon (Pantaleon). It is built on a slope of an area called Thergia with amazing views to the valleys of the northern Heraklion and the sacred mountain of Youchtas.

Saint Constantine church at Parakalouri

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 0.00 (0 Votes)

Parakalouri, now known as Saint Constantine, is a small village of the province of Mirabello. Apart from the small lake formed in winter, the place is known for the church of Saint Constantine and Saint Helen which bears frescoes dating back from the Venetian Era.

Agia Marina church at Messeleri

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 5.00 (1 Vote)

The Byzantine church of Agia Marina is preserved in the cemetery of village Meseleri in Ierapetra with exceptional wall paintings dating back to the Venetian era (14th century). Among the frescoes that stand out are the birth of Jesus and the Descent to Hades in the sanctuary (instead of the usual depiction of the Ascension of Jesus).

Church of Saint John Pezetis

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 0.00 (0 Votes)

A passable dirt road that starts from the cemetery of village Gournes and heads south, leads us to position Xevigli where there is a temple of the former monastery Saint John Pezetis, dedicated to Saint John the Baptist (feast day is August 29th). The small church interior bears frescoes in fair condition, dated in two phases.

Church of Zoodohos Pigi at Arhontiko

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 3.50 (2 Votes)

The church of Panagia (Life Giving Fountain is located at position Prinias, near village Arhontiko at province Monofatsi. The church, very old and small, bears traces of frescoes dating back to the 14th century, while you can still see the embedded vessels used to improve acoustics (sound).

Asceticism

Also read: