⭐ 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 Paul at Selouda

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 4.00 (6 Votes)

Saint Paul is a very old Byzantine church that was built at the place Selouda. The church is on the spot where Saint Paul reportedly baptized people on his way to Rome. It is a very picturesque small church, built on the beach using stones from the beach itself. This is why it is not easy to see the church from far.

Apezanes Monastery in Antiskari

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

The Monastery of St. Anthony in Apezanes or Apezana is built on a rocky plateau of Asterousia Mountains, at an altitude of 440m, approximately 63km south of Heraklion. From there starts a short valley that leads from Antiskari village to the beachfront of Platia Peramata.

Agios Antonios Monastery in Arvi

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 4.50 (2 Votes)

Arvi monastery is built near the gorge of Arvi, in an elevated area with panoramic sea views. Today it is abandoned and only remnants of monks’cells reveal its past.

Zoodochos Pigi Church, Alikianos

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 2.50 (4 Votes)

The imposing Byzantine church of the Life-Giving Fountain (Zoodohos Pihi) is located between the villages of Koufos and Alikianos, at a site with many orange and lemon trees. The temple is also known as Ai Kyrgiannis (St Mister John) after the name of St. John the Hermit or Xenos who founded it around 1030.

Kardamoutsa Monastery

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

The male monastery of Timios Stavros (Holy Cross) in Kardamoutsa is built very close to the village Karydi, at an altitude of 540m. Although the surrounding area is dry and rocky, there are many trees, especially hollies. At the entrance of the monastery you will see a huge oak tree, where according to tradition, whoever cuts a branch loses his hand.

Afendis Christos in Koumbes

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

The convent of Jesus Christ (Christ the Savior) is built on the hill of Timios Stavros, in the west suburb of Rethymnon called Koumbes. The monastery was probably initially founded during the Venetian period, like several monasteries and temples in the region.

Panagia Gouverniotissa Monastery

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 5.00 (5 Votes)

The monastery of Panagia Gouverniotissa is located near the village Potamies, 3km east of Heraklion. Today it operates as a monastery, but the church is used regularly for liturgies. It is built on a small hill with nice views to Potamies valley.

Agia Irini Monastery near Kroussonas

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 4.33 (3 Votes)

Agia Irini monastery is located 25km south of Heraklion and 3km west of Kroussonas village, on the slopes of Psiloritis at an altitude of 630m. It can be accessed via the road connecting Kroussonas with Livadi plateau.

Asceticism

Also read: