⭐ 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

Panagia Spiliotissa Monastery in Houdetsi

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 3.50 (6 Votes)

The monastery of Panagia Spiliotissa is located 22km south of Heraklion, between the villages Houdetsi and Agios Vasilios. It is hidden in the sides of the lush green Spiliotissa canyon. It can be easily accessed by walking on a green path, 500m long, from Houdetsi. Along this path you will see the Byzantine churches of St. John and Anthony, and two old water mills.

Saint Anthony Cave, Koudoumas

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 3.75 (4 Votes)

On the trail leading from Agios Ioannis to Koudoumas monastery we meet an impressive cave, shaped Δ, in which there is the small church of Saint Anthony. The cave hosts stalagmites and stalactites. One stalactite, has the shape of Saint Anthony, and a pit where there is an icon of St. Anthony. The cave was used as a residence of hermits.

Monastery of Agia Fotini the Samaritan

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 3.00 (6 Votes)

The Monastery of Agia Fotini the Samaritan is located at Ellinoperamata, Malevizi district, on the road leading to Rodia village. It was founded in June 1991 by the Archbishop of Crete, Timotheos. The monastery houses the church of Agia Fotini, the chapel of St. Fanourios, the nuns’ cells and the tomb of the founder of the monastery, Timotheos.

Transfiguration Monastery at Kastelos

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 4.00 (3 Votes)

At the area of Agia Kyriaki, on a rocky hill below the the ruins of the Byzantine fort Kastellos we meet the newly erected monastic buildings of the monastery Chrisopigi located in Chania town This place was blessed with his presence in 2002 by the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who walked in the trails in the area and laid the foundation stone of the new monastery temple, dedicated to the Transfiguration of Christ.

Agia Irini Hrysovalandou

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 3.33 (3 Votes)

The Holy Monastery of Santa Irene Hrysovalantou in Heraklion is located on the southern outskirts of the city. It was founded as a male monastery on April 14, 2002 by father Methodios Samaritakis. It currently has a few monks engaged in the production of wax and incense, and the management of the House of Elders that hosts elderly people.

Kapsas Monastery

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 4.50 (4 Votes)

The Monastery of St. John in Kapsas is located 9km east of Makrigialos next to Goudouras. This is owned by Toplou Monastery, near Sitia, and is dedicated to the Beheading of St. John the Baptist, celebrated on August 29.

Saint Andrew monastery in Finokalias

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 3.00 (2 Votes)

The monastery of St. Andrew was built long ago in one of the most isolated shores of the Mirabello Province, near Finokalia village. Today the old monastery does not survive, but a small church of St. Andrew has been built at the same site.

St John Monastery in Anopolis

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 3.25 (4 Votes)

The monastery of St. John Theologos (John the Apostle) in Anopolis is located relatively close to Heraklion. Although it has experienced the cruelty of the Turks during the Turkish occupation of Crete, the monastery still operates today. It is built in a beautiful valley at an altitude of 170m, southeast of Anopolis.

Asceticism

Also read: