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Places near Church
Kalergi Monastery is a picturesque monastery in Heraklion Prefecture dedicated to Saint John Prodromos, this peaceful place is situated in the southeast of Smari village by Kasteli region, south of the peak of Voukolies, at a distance of two kilometres from Kastelli village.
It was built one hundred years ago. However, on the peak of Mount Voukolies there are remains testifying to the existence of a monastery in that region that goes back hundreds of years.
The Kallergi Monastery is a monastery complex dedicated to St. John the Baptist, while the surrounding area is mountainous and barren. Although the exact date of its construction is not known, it seems that it was founded during the Venetian period. It is speculated that the site where it was built was a feud of Callergi.
During a period of tension, because of religious conflicts, the monastery hosted the Byzantine scholar and theologian Joseph Vryennios (1380-1400), to whom the area has been related. Since the early 20th century, the monastery has undergone several restorations, and since 1998 the restoration work has been continuing by the “Friends of the KalergisMonastery”.
Church of Agios Panteleimon (Saint Panteleimon)
The large historic Byzantine church of Agios Panteleimon of the 11th century is located near Bitzariano, north of Kastelli, in a location where nature is impressive. This is a three-aisled domed basilica of the Middle Byzantine period, which retains earlier architectural remnants on the south side, perhaps indicative of the fact that it has been built on the site of an early Christian church.
The fragmentary wall paintings are of particular interest and they are better preserved in the lower parts of the side walls, the central apse and the fronts of the eastern piers. The paintings are divided into three layers, dating from the 2nd half of the 11th up to the 13th century. Despite the many interventions in the temple, there is the possibility that this used to be an aisled basilica.
Bisariano is a traditional small village of about 24 inhabitants in the Municipality of Kasteli Pediada, 320 m above sea level and about 3 km to the north of Kastelli on the road to Hersonissos.
A pretty village with stone houses, graphic lanes and courtyards covered in flowers.
It is first mentioned in 1881, as Bizariano, Municipality of Kasteli, with 55 Christian inhabitants. In 1951, it changes its name to Pigi. Its first name is that of a family, Bizariano.
Close to the village, in a beautiful spot full of lush vegetation, evergreen plane trees and gushing water, stands the ancient church of Agios Pandeleimonas, with its three naves.
Two rows of arches supported by columns without capitals separate the naves. Another column is made exclusively of capitals, apparently brought in from other churches or temples. Practically all the middle outside wall is decorated with inscriptions, Byzantine reliefs and crosses.
The artistic highlight of the church of Saint Panteleimon are its fresco scenes painted on the walls which are among the oldest in Crete, although very few frescoes remain. In the lower section of the arch, there is the representation of the three Hierarchs, shown on full length, with vertical inscriptions on it. On the two side walls there are the representations of Saints in a colossal size. These scenes were designed to be a source of biblical education to the faithful, who would have been illiterate at that time.
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