Chrysopigi Monastery, Chaniá, Greece

The Convent of Chrysopigi, just outside Chania, is dedicated to Mother Mary, the Life-Giving Font (Panagia Zoodochos Pigi). The convent is built in a fortress style and it was founded by Ioannis Chartophylakas at the end of the 16th century. During Venetian rule it was a significant spiritual centre with a well-stocked library.

Its stopped flourishing with the Ottoman siege in the summer of 1645, when Philotheos Skoufos, the Father Superior, escaped to the Ionian Islands, taking with him the holy heirlooms of the monastery. Since then the place was deserted until it was restored in the 18th century. During the Liberation Revolution against the Ottomans it was burnt down.

After 1830 it played an important ecclesiastical role, but during the Second World War the Nazis obliged the monks to leave and caused serious damage to the buildings. In 1976 Chrysopigi was restored and became a convent. In the interior of the church dedicated to the Life-giving Font (Zoodochos Pigi), there are wonderful icons of the 19th century and a wonderfully carved wooden iconostasis.

References:

Destination Crete

User Reviews

Γιάννης Θωμαδάκης (16 months ago)
The most beautiful, picturesque monastery in Chania, with very friendly nuns, well organised and pious. The best example if you wish to acquaint yourself with the Christian Orthodox church, as well as the monastic life in Crete.

Ioannis Kotzianoglou (2 years ago)
The Women’s convent (Monastery) of Chrysopigi lies a short distance from the center town of Chania. Founded in the middle of the 16th century in the last period of Venetian occupation of Crete. A monastic community seeking ecological consciousness through environmental education programs aimed at school children

Geoffrey Mullier (2 years ago)
The sisters were extremely friendly, I'm no religious man but learning from the nuns the story of their monasteries and the context behind it was extremely interesting, as well as taking in the view of the surrounding area, which is, let's be honest, worth a look.

Mireia Uranga (3 years ago)
Small but very well preserved monastery. The nuns were very kind to us and one of them offered a guided tour along tge monastery for us. There us also a second monastery on the mountains but we couldn't visit it as it only opens in weekends.

Kyriakos Koymakis (4 years ago)
Iconic Greek- orthodox Nuns Monastery. Well known for their hospitality. Dont miss the chance, if any.

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