⭐ 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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Christ Savior church at Pano Karkasa

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The church of Christ the Savior is located at Pano Karkassa, at the outskirts of the village of Anatoli in province Ierapetra and is dedicated to the Transfiguration of Christ. The temple was part of the ruined monastery Karkassia, the cells of which were later rebuilt into the residences we see today.

Church of Saint Anthony in Kandanos

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The church of Saint Anthony (Agios Antonios) is located in the neighbourhood Hassiana in the village of Kandanos. Inside, there are traces of frescoes dating back to the Venetian Era.

Church of Panagia Aggelon in Fradio

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The Church of Our Lady of Angels (Panagia Aggelon) is located in the rural area of Fradio, between the villages Roufas and Moroni. The church was the temple of the Catholic monastery of Our Lady of the Angels of theFranciscan monks that operated here in the 15th century.

Church of Saint George at Mathia

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Near Mathia village we meet the small single vaulted temple of Saint George, bearing frescoes dating back from the 13th century of foremost importance.

Michael Archangel church in Kakodiki

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The cemeterial temple of Michael Archangel is located next to the church of the Holy Trinity (Agia Triada) in Kakodiki, province Selino, and is an elongated arched church with a pointed arch, reinforced by three reinforcing arches (sfendonia) supported by pillars.

Panagia monastery at Gourni

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The church of Panagia in the area Gourni is located north of Kapistri (Stavros) village, on the road to Panagia Keragrameni. According to tradition, the name Gourni (trough) was taken after a small trough that the monks had placed on the adjacent river to collect water.

Saint George church at Lambini

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The church of Saint George (Agios Georgios) is located at position Maza, just east of the village Lambini in the province of Agios Vasilios. The church is overshadowed by the imposing nearby church of Panagia. It is a small single-nave arched-roofed temple, hidden in vegetation by the main road passing by.

Michael Archangel church in Kamiliana

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In the full of chestnuts region of the settlement of Kamiliana, province Selino, near Strovles, there is the temple of Michael Archangel or Astratigos. The church belongs to the architectural type of the single-roomed and arched-roofed and dates back to 1430.

Asceticism

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