Church of Saint Charalambos at Paliama 
In the lush green valley where the now-abandoned settlement of Paliama once stood, the impressive two-aisled Church of Saint Charalambos and the Virgin Mary survives. One aisle is dedicated to Saint Charalambos and the other to the Virgin Mary.
Fragmentary traces of old frescoes are preserved inside the church. Of particular interest are the ancient architectural members incorporated into its walls as reused building material. They probably originate from an Early Christian building or basilica in the wider area, although it has not been confirmed that this earlier structure occupied exactly the same site.
According to the prevailing interpretation, the name Paliama is a corruption of the Greek phrase Palia Moni, meaning “Old Monastery”. The name is associated with the use of the church as the katholikon of a small monastery, which probably flourished during the Venetian period. Local tradition relates that during the Ottoman period the nuns abandoned the monastery and sought refuge at Paliani Monastery, near Venerato.
An important event in the church’s more recent history occurred on 4 March 1890, the Sunday of the Veneration of the Holy Cross. According to a letter written by the local Metropolitan, a detachment of Ottoman soldiers surrounded the church, entered the building, arrested the priest and caused damage inside the sanctuary. The incident gained international attention and was mentioned a few months later in the Italian Parliament.
The walk to the church through the green valley, olive groves and oak trees offers a beautiful introduction to the Cretan countryside. A visit can be combined with the nearby monumental olive tree of Paliama, which has been declared monumental because of its size and remarkably sculpted trunk.
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Additional Info
- Location: Heraklion Prefecture
- Type: Church
- Accessibility: Dirt track
