Religious tradition can be found everywhere on Crete and is still a formative part of everyday life today. Crete is under the jurisdiction of an autonomous archbishop who is independent of the rest of Greece - the diocese of Crete is based in Iraklio. Thanks to its countless places of worship and monasteries, Crete is an important religious and historical destination today.
With the beginning of early Christianity, when the apostle Paul stayed on Crete and preached the new religion, the Christian tradition has developed over the centuries and made the island one of the cradles of Orthodox Christianity - hundreds of religious monuments on the island are an impressive testimony to this.
The struggles for freedom also often originated from monastic communities. Quiet places of self-imposed monastic exile, the remains of early Christian basilicas, cave chapels and Byzantine churches with impressive murals can be found all over Crete. Cretan icon painting reached its peak during the Venetian era. Domínikos Theotokópoulos (better known as "El Greco") and Michael Damascenus are important names from the 16th century.
Many monasteries also played an important role during the Cretan struggles for freedom.
Monasteries Chania
Agia Kyriaki
Agia Triada („Heilige Dreifaltigkeit“)
Agios Antonios
Agios Eleftherios, Mournies
Agios Georgios Charodia
Agios Georgios, Karydi
Agios Georgios, Spatha
Agios Ioannis
Agios Ioannis Pazinos, Akrotiri
Agios Pavlos
Azogyres
Chrysopigi
Chrysoskalitissa
Gonia Odigitria
Kalogrades, Akrotiri
Katholiko
Tzagaroli, Kap Akrotiri
Monasteries Heraklion
Agarathos
Agia Fotini
Agia Marina, Vonni
Agia Pelagia, Ahlada
Agios Antonios, Arvi
Agios Georgios Epanosifis
Agios Georgios Gorgolainis, Asites
Agios Ioannis, Anopolis
Agios Panteleimon, Fodele
Agios Theodoros
Allerheiligen-Kloster, Loutraki
Apezana, Antiskari
Kallergis, Kastelli
Kalyviani, Mirer
Kloster Agia Irini, Kroussonas
Paliani, Venerato
Panagia Kera Kardiotissa
Panagia Odigitria, Sivas
Panagia Theogennitor, Mohos
Pantanassa
Rogdia
Savvatiana
Vrondissi, Vorizia