Churches and monasteries of Crete

In 65 AD., Titus, disciple of St Paul, founded in Gortyn the first Christian community. In the 16th century the Cretan School of Painting, closely allied with Byzantine tradition, produced numerous painters of icons, both famous and unknown. Crete is scattered with the ruins of countless frescoed churches dating from 961, when the Byzantines recaptured Crete from the Saracens, to 1204, when the island fell into the hands of the Venetians.

         

In Hania
The chapel of the Moneyless Saints (Agii Anargyri) with old Byzantine frescoes. The Russo-Byzantine church of Agia Magdalini in the Halepa quarter.

In the District of Hania
At Akrotiri, northeast of the city (16.5 km), the Monastery of Agia Triada (Tzangarol), with a fine gate and church, built in 1632. Near Agia Triada, the Monastery of Our Lady of the Angels or Gouvernetou, founded in 1548, has a Renaissance style church whose impressive façade is decorated with Venetian sculptures. The Gonia Monastery, (24 km west of Hania), near the village of Kolimbari. Also called the Hodigitria (Madonna as Guide), it has a lovely view and buildings dating from 1662. At Kato Episkopi, a village about 10 km south of Kolimbari, the Rotonda of the Archangel Michael with interesting mosaic floors and important frescoes by Byzantine artists of the 12th century. At the village of Alikianos, (13 km southwest of Hania), the Byzantine church of St George with frescoes dated from 1430. At the village of Sougia, on the south coast of the district, there are soma exquisite mosaics from an early Christian 6111-century basilica preserved in the village's modern church.

In the District of Rethymno
The Monastery of Arkadi (Moni Arkadi,), (23 km southeast of Rethymno) , built in 16th century in a wonderful natural setting. There is a tourist pavilion outside the monastery.
The Monastery of Preveli (36 km south of Rethymno). A historic monastery well worth visiting with a small museum and beautiful view of the Libyan Sea (Liviko Pelagos).

In Iraklio
The cathedral of Agios Minas and the smaller church of Agios Minas beside it. The church of St Catherine (Agia Ekaterini), containing icons by Michail Oamaskinos, the most important representative of the Cretan School.

In the District of Iraklio
At Skotini, about 1 km northwest of Fodele, the little church of the Presentation of the Virgin (Issodia tis Theotokou) built on the site of an cider church of the 11th or 12th century.
About 56 km southwest of Iraklio the Monastery of Vrondissi with a fountain carved in relief (15th c.) at the entrance to the garden and a panoramic view. Further southwest, near the village of Vorizia (52 km from Iraklio), the abandoned monastery of Varsamoneri. Here one can see the church of Agios Phanourios whose 15th-century frescoes are of great artistic and scientific value, a unique monument of the Cretan School. At Gortyn (Gortis) he three-apsed basilica (6th century) dedicated to St Titus, one of the most important monuments of Christianity in Crete. Near Krassi, west of Agios Nikolaos, the Monastery of Kardiotissa, with its church consecrated to the Virgin of Kera.

In the District Lassithi
Some 9 km from Agios Nikolaos before the village of Kritsa, the church of Our Lady of Kera, filled with frescoes from the 14th or 15th century and judged to be the finest in Crete. East of Sitia (18 km), the Monastery of Toplou or the Panayia (Virgin) Akrotiriani, dating from the 15th century. The monastery contains an inscription from the 2nd century B.C. and a famous 18th century iron by loannis Kornaros. South of Sitia (41 km), the Monastery of Kapsa .

Source: GNTO