Holy Monastery of Chrysopigi

The monastery was founded in the late 16^th century, and in 1976, it was converted into a convent.

Over the centuries, Chrysopigi has undergone periods of prosperity and decline. In the Venetian era, it served as a spiritual centre for Crete with numerous monks and a well-endowed library. Throughout the Turkish occupation, its spiritual tradition persisted, and the monastery evolved into a Patriarchal Stavropegio.

The monastery endured significant hardship under Turkish rule and was destroyed in 1821 during the Greek Revolution. In the 19^th century, restoration efforts were undertaken, and the monastery was repopulated. However, during World War II, the Germans repurposed the monastery as a headquarters. They compelled the monks to evacuate and inflicted considerable damage to the architectural integrity of the buildings.

To learn more about the monastery, please click HERE.

Photo: Municipality of Chania