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Επισκοπή 
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As you continue southward from Kolimbari village in Chania Prefecture, you will see a Greek/English sign just before Episkopi village, which directs you to the Byzantine church of Michael the Archangel (otherwise known as “The Rotonda”).
It is a very imposing church, which once served as an Episcopal seat (2nd Byzantine period, 961 - 1204 AD), and it is like no other in Crete. Its unique architectural feature is its dome, built in five successive levels. Judging from the few surviving parts of the paintings, such as the face of the archangel , its decoration must have been very impressive.
Also impressive is the carved marble font with the two seats. The excavation of the area has revealed that religious worship in this place must have been an ongoing practice for at least 1500 years; the church was apparently built on the ruins of an earlier basilica, possibly of the 5th century, whose foundations (as well as a part of a floor mosaic) have survived to this day. Currently, the Rotunda is undergoing extensive restoration work, both on the inside and on the outside. Despite the fact, the people from the surrounding villages continue to visit it, and they never leave without lighting a candle.
The church can be hard to find if you come from the south on the route Vasilopoulo - Episkopi - Drakona. At the end of the village of Episkopi (after driving through it) there is an exit on the left hand side and about 1 kilometer further on the left hand side there is another one. You will not see the signs because they are placed in a way that you will only see them when you come from the north from the direction of Kolimbari. See the map below for the exact location.
It is a very imposing church, which once served as an Episcopal seat (2nd Byzantine period, 961 - 1204 AD), and it is like no other in Crete. Its unique architectural feature is its dome, built in five successive levels. Judging from the few surviving parts of the paintings, such as the face of the archangel , its decoration must have been very impressive.
Also impressive is the carved marble font with the two seats. The excavation of the area has revealed that religious worship in this place must have been an ongoing practice for at least 1500 years; the church was apparently built on the ruins of an earlier basilica, possibly of the 5th century, whose foundations (as well as a part of a floor mosaic) have survived to this day. Currently, the Rotunda is undergoing extensive restoration work, both on the inside and on the outside. Despite the fact, the people from the surrounding villages continue to visit it, and they never leave without lighting a candle.
The church can be hard to find if you come from the south on the route Vasilopoulo - Episkopi - Drakona. At the end of the village of Episkopi (after driving through it) there is an exit on the left hand side and about 1 kilometer further on the left hand side there is another one. You will not see the signs because they are placed in a way that you will only see them when you come from the north from the direction of Kolimbari. See the map below for the exact location.
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