Monasteries have played an important role in almost every war since time began.
During the second world war the Cretan nuns & monks would hide away British, Kiwi & Australian soldiers along with the brave locals resisting the Nazi occupation.
At great risk to themselves & their villages, monks would hide men in the hills and band together to guard them from the enemy. They would nurse the men, feed them and often help them to regroup and escape.
Eastern Crete is peppered with old monasteries, so having had a day of utter decadence in the hotel, we decided that today was the day to visit some of the nuns and pay our respects to the old makeshift fortresses.
We headed for the hills, winding through the rolling countryside & found ourselves at the gates of Kremasta Monastery.
If you’re going to go up & listen to some of the old stories then you’ll want to take a head scarf. If you’re a super cool mother & daughter team… you’ll want to wear matching ones.
Naturally.
Built in 1593 and perched on the side of a mountain, it almost looks as though it’s hanging there.
Which, incidentally, is how it got its name as “Kremasti” means hanging.
Inside you can roam freely through the grounds. Chat to devoted nuns & sit peacefully, as people have done in that very spot for centuries.
There are little chapels that entice you in with wafts of burning incense that curl through the trees.
Take a few coins and you can light a candle.
Whether you’re religious or not it’s a nice way to say thank you or to remember the people you miss. I’m pretty sure God doesn’t mind what religion you are.
All around there are icons painstakingly painted by the nuns themselves in devotion to God & their chosen saints.
There are also sheltering animals who wander through, some staying forever, keeping the inhabitants company.
These silver offerings are thanks from villagers.
Each show a leg, a baby, a man… all things that people have prayed for help with and have had cured.
We said our goodbyes & traveled up a little further before stumbling on the next monastery.
Koufi Petra is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The original temple was built in an old cave but it’s come a long way since them with buildings that climb way up the hill.
There are lots of offerings here & the nuns encourage visitors to kiss the icon of Mary, which is why it’s plated with glass. We wandered with old sister Mariam who taught us about the saints & the Greek Orthodox ways. I also made another friend…
He reminded me so much of Custard…
Please, please can I bring him home?
