SPIRITUAL: MONASTERIES OF CRETE

Greece’s religious monuments:  The wealth of its Byzantine monuments makes Greece the perfect destination for thousands of Christian pilgrims. Monuments of centuries-old ecclesiastic architecture and art, innumerable churches and monasteries give testimony to the country's rich religious heritage.

CRETAN MONASTERIES

The treasures of orthodoxy…

Cretan monasteries: The Cretan monasteries are renowned for their combination of artistic treasures, long history of ascetic struggle, and striking locations. Apart from the excavation sites of the Minoan Periods, there is wealth of Byzantine cultural monuments: over 30 impressive monasteries are strung out across the island between Chrissoskalitissa in the far west and Toplou and Kapsas in the east. Is not known when first monasteries founded in Crete. It’s believed, they were founded the first – Byzantine years. The early Christianisation of Crete, and the short distance from Egypt, where the “fathers” of deserted founded the monastic life, helped to bring and accepts Crete monasticism and the southern coast with the natural shelters and caverns became ideal places and accept the first monks…

Monasteries:

Agarathos – Agios Yannis (St. John) the Theologian – Epanossifis – Apezanes Odigitria Gorgolahini – Vrontissi – Varsamonero – Koudoumas – Kalergi – Agios Pantelehimonas

Convents:  

Kardiotissa”Kera” – Paliani – Savathiana – Agia Irene – Kalyviani – Spiliotissa – Agia Moni Viannou – Agios Antonios Arvis…

 

10 days/9 night

Price per person :

1.164 Euro

Based on minimum : 4 persons

Price includes:

Εxclusive chartered vehicle with English speaking driver  for the cultural Pilgrim tours visits the Cretan Monasteries and the Cretan villages

9 nights hotel accommodation at moderate 3*** hotel / double occupancy on

bed & breakfast basis

Transportation from / to the hotel

Meals: All meals: 9 breakfasts – 9 lunches – 8 dinners. Rich, unique, tasty, traditional,

natural, healthy, cooked by local house ladies using old traditional methods

SCHEDULE:

Day 1. Arrival. Reception at the airport. Transportation to the hotel. Presentation of the program. Dinner at local restaurant with variety of traditional Cretan delicacies. Accommodation Heraklion.
(Dinner)

Day 2. WEST CRETE. REGION of CHANIA. Region of Chania hosts several of most  interesting monasteries . Today we visit the monasteries of  KATHOLIKO, GOUVERNETO and AGIA TRIADA.Lunch at a local restaurant. Accommodation Chania and dinner at the old city of Chania.
(Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)

Day 3. WEST CRETE: REGION of CHANIA: The GONIAS ODIGITRIAS and the

CHRISSOSKALITISSA our today’s monasteries. Lunch on our way and dinner at the city

of Chania. Accommodation Chania. 
(Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)

Day 4. WEST CRETE: REGION of RETHYMNON: Southern part still Chania region the ST. JOHN MONASTERY closed to the CHORA SFAKION and then the monastery of PREVELI.

North direction Rethymnon and the village of PATSOS. In the entrance of a canyon there is the SAINT ANTONIOS  small very old church in a small cave. Drive north direction Rethymnon where we accommodate.   
(Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)

Day 5.  WEST – CENTRAL CRETE: The monastery of ARKADI. Then the monastery of VOSSAKOS. Lunch at the mountain village of DROSSIA and the monastery of HALEPA. Break for a coffee with monk NIKOLAOS and join LIVE Cretan Lyra music by a famous local Lyra player and singer. Drive east to Heraklion where we accommodate. 
(Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)

Day 6. CENTRAL CRETE: PREFECTURE OF HERAKLION: The monasteries of VRONDISSI at ZAROS area where we lunch and the monastery ODIGITRIAS at the southern part of HERAKLION region. Back to Heraklion where we accommodate. 
(Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner)

Day 7. CENTRAL CRETE: A visit to the palace of KNOSSOS and the monastery of SAINT GEORGE APANOSSIFIS. Lunch at Archanes and then the convent of SPILIOTISSA. Back to Heraklion. Accommodation Heraklion 
(Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner)

Day 8. EAST CRETE: SITIA REGION: Our first stop will be at  the village of  KAVOUSSI where stands the oldest ancient olive tree  worldwide. The leaves of this tree used for the athletes on 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES. Continue and visit one of the most famous monasteries in Crete the TOPLOU Monastery well known out of its history through the years for the now ORGANIC products as olive oil, wine and honey.  South again direction Ierapetra and break for lunch at the small village of Sikia where we taste fresh home made delicacies. Our next stop the village of LITHINES. In Lithines is the church of VIRGIN MARY with impressive wall paintings from 14^thcentury.  Accommodation at the near area. 
(Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner)

Day 9. EAST CRETE: IERAPETRA REGION: The KAPSAS monastery.  Magnificent, Beautiful, Peaceful is what someone can say. Cultural tour of the area rest of the day and back to Heraklion where we accommodate. 
(Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner)

Day 10. LAST DAY: Transportation to the airport. END OF SERVICES 
(Breakfast)

NOTICE: There are many monasteries in Crete. We could not include all in a 10 days itinerary so we included the ones we think are most important. THANK YOU