Kallergi Monastery

Kallergi Monastery is located in a small green area on a barren slope of a hill southeast of Smari.

The major temple of the monastery is dedicated to St John the Forerunner.

It is claimed that it was built on a fief belonging to the Kallergi family, but this has yet to be ascertained.

The Byzantine scholar and theologian Joseph Bryennios (1380-1400) once visited the monastery, and ever since, his name has been associated with the area.

The building was abandoned during the Turkish occupation but, in 1874, the ruined monastery and the field on which it stood was bought by the abbot of Vidiani Monastery, Methodios Perakis, and it has belonged to Vidiani since then.

Since the beginning of the 20th century, the monastery has been restored several times. In 1998, the Association of Friends of the Kallergi Monastery took over all restoration work.

Information/ Photo: Municipality Minoa Pediados