⭐ 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 Agia Paraskevi at Pendamodi

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In a secluded and lush green area north of village Pendamodi, a dirt road heads to the small single-aisled church of Agia Paraskevi. The surroundings of the temple are beautifully landscaped and here locals organize cultural events in summer.

Saint George Church at Kavousi

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For the usual practices of eastern Crete, the church of Saint George at Kavoussi, is a barrel-vaulted church of large dimensions with two wings on the west side which create a T-shaped narthex. The great length of the church may have resulted from an extension to the east during a second construction phase.

Michael Archangel monastery (Finikas)

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The small monastery of Michael Archangel is located at position Finikias, over the stream that forms the beautiful palm wood of Souda. Phoenix (Finikas), as it is known, was a dependency of the monastery Prophet Elias in Roustika and today belongs to the parish of Sellia.

Church of Saint Vlassios at Stamni

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In the cemetery of Stamni village, we meet the double aisled church dedicated to Saint Vlassios. The north aisle bears traces of frescoes and was built in the Venetian Era, while the south aisle and west facade was built in the 19th century.

Church of Saint Anthony at Keramoutsi

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The church of Saint Anthony at Keramoutsi, province Malevizi, is a small single-nave church with its upper part being restored with cement. The surviving lower part bears frescoes of Venetian rule in poor condition.

Christ Saviour church at Galifa

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On the road connecting the settelments Galifa and Episkopi we meet a small single-room vaulted church dedicated to the Transfiguration of Christ. The temple dates back from the 14th century and its interior bears frescoes in poor condition.

Church of Saint George Kavou

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The wider area of Voritsi, province Pediada, was an important center of ascetism especially during the Venetian period. One of the most important monasteries was that of Saint George Kavos (Agios Georgios), which was built on a site with panoramic view. Today one can see the remains of cells and the well preserved church, which has a nave intersected by another.

Panagia Kardiotissa church, Aitania

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At the entrance of the picturesque village Aitania,.at Pediada province, Heraklion, on the way from village Episkopi we meet the picturesque church of Panagia Kardiotissa. The church is cemeterial and is dedicated to the Birth of the Virgin. It is a very picturesque church, of the many that adorn the wider region of Episkopi, where we meet many Byzantine churches.

Asceticism

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