Monastery of Koudoumas
| Distance | 6 km. from Heraklion |
|---|---|
| Open to the public: | From morning ‘till evening daily |
| Entrance fee: | Admission free. |
| Toilet Facilities: | Available |
| Wi-Fi: | Not Available |
| Cafe: | Available |
| Parking space: | Available for private vehicles and mini bus |
| Facilities for people with disabilities: | Some available |
| Supervised by: | Holy Archdiocese of Crete |
| Access and walking difficulty: | Difficulty rating, 2, 22 km of dirt road |
The monastery of Koudoumas is built in a beautiful bay on the southern coast of Crete,
, amongst caves occupied by hermits. Today’s monastery was erected in 1870 by two Cretan monks who were sanctified, Parthenios and Evmenios. On that very spot there was the ruins of a monastery whose name is unknown and so is the name of its saint. The 14th century wall painting found in the church of the monastery confirms it was a worship place already in the 14th century. In the Venetian era the cartographers mention the existence of Christ monastery there. It was abandoned either because of pirate raids or Turkish conquest. The name of the location is said to be after the plant ‘koudoumalia’. The holy monastery of the Assumption of the Virgin, as it’s called today, has always been operational since it was founded. Today father superior Makarios and six monks reside there.
Botanical
Culinary
Geology
Hiking
Historical
Village experiences
Sports activities
