⭐ 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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Cathedral of Saint Thomas at Agios Thomas

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The area of St. Thomas at Monofatsi province can easily be described as a religious park, as it hosted 38 churches in the past. The most spectacular of all still stands still in the center of the village. It is the Byzantine church dedicated to St. Thomas, an aisled basilica with a narthex in front.

Saint George church at Toupaki

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Saint George at the beautiful pine-wooded position Toupaki by Episkopi was the temple of a small monastery, which since 16th century was a dependency of the monastery Agarathos.

Mikri Episkopi at Partira

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The ruined village Mikri Episkopi (i.e. Small Diocese) is located near Partira and was the seat of the Diocese of Arcadia. As expected, the village hosted an imposing temple, which has now collapsed. Columns and walls testify the importance of the temple.

Panagia Kera Church at Chromonastiri

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The 11th-century church of Panagia Kera is located at a panoramic position south to the village Chromonastiri. It is a cruciform temple with a dome, with two niches at the sides. To the south there is an embedded chapel of the 15th century dedicated to St. Anne.

Saint John monastery at Liopetro

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Below Liopetro Peak there is the very old church of St. John that once operated as a monastery, accessible through a very bad road starting from the main road connecting Lassithi to Sitia (initially cement road). The background to the towering phyllitic rocks of Liopetro is impressive.

Santa Paraskevi monastery, Kastelos

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The church of Agia Paraskevi at Kastellos is a double-aisled church with a stone iconostasis. It was the temple of an old monastery, now deserted. The monastery was built at a beautiful place with tall trees perfect for a stroll.

Saint George Sfakiotis church at Diavaide

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Near Diavaide there is the church of St. George Sfakiotis, bearing frescoes of the 14th century (there is an inscription of 1390). One of the frescoes represents St. George and St. Demetrius on horseback crossing the sea with octopuses, crabs, eels, and lobsters below their legs.

Saint Kirikos Church at Lissos

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Saint Kirikos or Kirkos is located at the archaeological site of Lissos, on the site of a former Early Christian Basilica and gives its name to the entire valley of Lissos. The vaulted church has Byzantine frescoes, unfortunately damaged.

Asceticism

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