⭐ 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

Christ Savior and Saint Gedeon Monastery at Margarites

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 3.75 (8 Votes)

The monastery is located in the village Margarites, 30km south of Rethymno, and was built in the late 15th - early 16th century. It is a dependency of the Monastery of Karakalou at Athos. Its founder belonged to the Venetian family Dandolo. In front of the beautiful gate, there is a tomb embossed with the crest of Dandolo, preserved in very good condition till today.

Areti Monastery in Karydi

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 4.00 (1 Vote)

The Monastery of the Holy Trinity in Areti is located next to the village Karydi (close to Neapolis) in a dry and isolated area of Mirabello province. Along with the neighboring Kardamoutsa monastery, they were the most important monasteries of the area (This area has the most monasteries than any other place in Crete).

Vrontissi monastery in Vorizia

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 5.00 (2 Votes)

Vrontissi monastery is located 49km southwest of Heraklion, near Vorizia Gorge, between the villages of Zaros and Vorizia. The area has panoramic views of Vorizia village and the plain of Messara. The monastery is dedicated to Saint Anthony and is one of the oldest monasteries in Crete.

Parthenos Monastery at Kissamos

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 2.83 (6 Votes)

The monastery of Parthenos is a modern nunnery dedicated to Life Giving Spring. It was founded in 1905 and was renovated in 1962. Here operated the Urban School of Girls and the first Deaf school in Crete.

Monastery of Saint John the Merciful at Pazinos

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 4.67 (3 Votes)

The monastery of St. John the Merciful (Agios Ioannis Eleimon) is located very close to Chania airport, south of the village Pazinos or Gagalado. The monastery, which operated as a dependency of Gouverneto monastery was fortified and its walls are preserved in excellent condition.

Goumenospilios Cave

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 3.00 (5 Votes)

Goumenospilios is a very small cave located in Agiofarago Gorge, about 80km south of Heraklion. Its entrance is very small, but the inner is very spacious, with a lighting hole on the roof. The cave has no decor, but is nonetheless legendary.

Monastery of Axion Esti in Ierapetra

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 3.90 (10 Votes)

The Monastery of Panagia Faneromeni (i.e. Revealed Holy Mary) or Virgin Mary of Gournia is located northwest of Pachia Ammos, 24km south of Agios Nikolaos. It is a male monastery built on a steep slope at an altitude of 540 meters with stunning sea views. The monastery church is built inside a cave.

Saint Anastasia the Roman monastery

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 3.86 (7 Votes)

The Monastery of St. Anastasia the Roman, the first in Greece monastery dedicated to Her, was founded in 2008 and started its operation in July 2009. Apart from the main church of St. Anastasia, there is the chapel of St. Kosmas the Aetolian.

Asceticism

Also read: