Odigitria Monastery

Odigitria - Hodegetria Monastery is one of the oldest and grandest monasteries on Crete.

It is a citadel-type monastery, with a large fortified tower in its courtyard to protect the monks from pirates who arrived from southern sea. The tower was initially built by Nikiforos Fokas in 961 AD.

The tower we see today is a downstream, built at the site of the first during the years of Venetian rule, while retaining many of the Byzantine elements.

The two-aisled church at the centre of the courtyard is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and the Holy Apostles. In the initial building, there have been several additions and its interior includes preserved frescoes, portable icons by famous painters, the ornate temple and important holy vestments.

During the Ottoman occupation the monastery was a shelter of revolutionaries.

Source: Religious Routes of Crete - Greek Region of Crete