⭐ 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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The monastery of Panagia Armos in Malles

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The monastery of Panagia Armos is located in Armos position, 5km southeast of Males village, very close to the nunnery of Exakousti. The area where the monastery was built is lush green and has panoramic views to the pine forest of Selakano.

Panagia Antifonitria Monastery at Miriokefala

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The monastery of Panagia Antifonitria is located in the village Miriokefala, 29km south of Rethymno. The monastery does not operate today and is one of the oldest monasteries in Crete. It is said to have been founded in the 11th century by St. John Xenos or Hermit. Saint John is well known for establishing several small monasteries across the island.

Panagia Charakiani church

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In the middle of the distance of Heraklion and Rethymnon and just before reaching Bali, right on the highway we meet the church of Panagia (Our Lady) Charakiani. It is the largest pilgrimage in the entire prefecture of Rethymnon. During the first 15 days of August many people gathered, especially on the old days, and stayed in small huts around the temple till the day of the Assumption during which the small church celebrates.

Panagia Kera church at Agia Roumeli

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One of the most important Byzantine monuments is located in the gorge of Samaria, at the site of a former a temple of town Tarra (1st century AD). The initial church was a three-nave basilica and today what we see is the Byzantine church that was built in place of the initial.

Agia Triada Sinai monastery

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The Sinai dependency of Agia Triada (Holy Trinity) is located between Perivolia and Mournies suburbs of Chania and is one of the 4 independent monasteries of Sinai Saint Catherine Monastery in Crete. The Monastery of the Holy Trinity was founded during the Second Byzantine Period (before 1204) and had a rural character, as evidenced by the monastery (olive mill, warehouse for products, etc).

Panagia Vryomeni Monastery in Meseleri

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The monastery of Panagia Vryomeni is located 4km east of the village Meseleri, in a rough and rocky area. It is dedicated to the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, celebrating on September 8, but the monastery celebrates also on August 15.

Panagia at Meronas

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The church is located at the village of Meronas and it is earliest mentioned in a notary document of 1301. The settlement was named Meronas, from the Greek verb merono (relax, cool down), as according to tradition, at this place Virgin Mary (Panagia) relaxed when the temple was built at this place.

Panagia monastery, Sgourokefali

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The monastery of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary is located at an elevated position, east of the village Sgourokefali. The nunnery was founded in 1990 and has beautiful views to the village of Sgourokefali.

Asceticism

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