Byzantine churches and chapels
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of Byzantine churches and
chapels on Crete. Some are over a thousand years old and many still
house beautiful frescoes. The only really famous Byzantine
church is the Panagia Kera (in eastern Crete) so that most of the
others can still be visited in relative peace. Nowadays, most of
these chapels and churches are kept locked and you will often have
to hunt for the key in the village. Your best starting point is
in the "kafeneion" where someone is bound to know its
whereabouts. Please avoid asking for the key at "unsocial
times" such as in the early afternoon where many people take
a nap.
Take a look at Wall
paintings in Crete for a nice introduction to Byzantine frescoes.
Monasteries
Crete has a number of large monasteries. Monastic
life has lost its appeal and only have a few monks (or nuns) still
live in them. Below you can see the most famous monasteries in
West Crete. There are many more. |
Agia Triada, Gouverneto and Katholiko
Collectively known as the monasteries of Akrotiri they
spread over a large area on the northern part of the Akrotiri peninsula,
east of the city of Chania. Agia Triada used to be an important religious
school and has enough space for several hundred monks, nowadays only
3 or 4 live there.
The ruined monastery of Katholiko which can only reached
on foot is probably the oldest monastery in Crete (11th century?)
and its ruins are very impressive, with a huge bridge still in perfect
condition spanning a riverbed.
Preveli monastery
The monastery of Preveli is superbly located above the Libyan sea
and also has a rich history of resistance against the Turks (who
set fire to it) as well as the Germans during W.W.II (they plundered
it in retaliation for helping the defeated Allied troops leave the
island).
Beautiful church and interesting little museum. |
Arkadi monastery
The 16th century monastery of Arkadi is located 22 km south-east
of Rethimnon and posses an impressive Venetian baroque church building.
Its main claim to fame is however of more historical nature: in 1866,
the Turks sent massive forces to quell insurrections on the island.
Hundreds of men, women and children fled their villages and took
shelter in the monastery. When 2000 Turkish soldiers attacked the
building, rather than surrender, the Cretans set alight a store of
gunpowder. The explosion killed almost everyone, Turks included.
Arkadi remains a symbol of Cretan defiance against those who want to subdue
them. |
|
