⭐ 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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Saint John at Platanakia

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The church of Saint John the Forerunner is located just outside the village of Stylos (Apokoronas province) at position Platanakia. It is one-aisled church built in 1898 and celebrating on August 29 (a big fest takes place then). Around the church there are many plane trees which offer shade to visitors and there are benches and tables making the place ideal for picnics.

Saint Peter Monastery at Gallos

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The monastery of Saints Peter and Paul is located at the settlement of Gallos, near the University of Crete. The restored monastery, for which there is no surviving information about its history, is a dependency of the Monastery of Arkadi.

Church of Ascension at Paleochora

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Analipsis is built in a prominent position above the current settlement of Paleochora with spectacular views of the surrounding area. The point of this temple is very important because it is located just behind the sanctuary of the church there is spring with fresh water.

Church of Agia Paraskevi at Dramia

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The chapel of Agia Paraskevi is accessed via the road leading to Episkopi, Rethymno, from Dramia village, Apokoronas. It is a very small cavernous rock built at the west bank of Mouselas river, that starts from Argiroupoli springs. It is a weird chapel, with irregular sides, with a unique shape in Crete.

Panagia Almiri monastery

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The church of Panagia Almyri (Salty Virgin Mary) belongs to the parish of Megali Vrissi and is one of the largest pilgrimages of Messara Plain. Especially, on the celebration day of the church (feast of Ascension) hundreds of people flock from all corners of Crete.

Panagia Church at Archanes

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The Venetian church of Virgin Mary (Panagia Kera or Faneromeni) is located near the entrance of the town of Archanes. The name Faneromeni (Revealed) is taken after a legend that writes as follows: Once a girl called Maria saw a light at the point where the miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary was hidden. The girl then built the first temple.

Saint George Galatas at Asi Gonia

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St George Galatas (Milky) at village Asi Gonia is a small single-aisled church. This temple houses one of the famous centuries-old traditions of Crete during the feast of St. on April 23.

Panagia monastery at Fraskia

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Here you will meet the ruins of the monastery Panagia Fraskia (Faschea) mentioned on almost all maps of the Venetian Era, having been one of the most important monasteries in Venetian Crete. Panagia, mentioned by Buontelmonti in 1415, was founded in the late 12th century at the point where the Venetians used as a natural harbor (the cove of Fraskia).

Asceticism

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