Chrysoskalitissa Monastery


Chrysoskalitissa Monastery is a 17th-century Orthodox Christian monastery located on the southwest coast of the island of Crete, Greece. Within the municipal district of Innachori, the monastery lies about 72 kilometres southwest of Chania. Built up on rocks 35 metres above the water, it overlooks the Libyan Sea.

Features

History

The coastal area close to the monastery promontory has several small coves that in earlier times offered welcome landing points for sailors coming to Crete from the west. There archeologists have found interesting remains of late Neolithic and Early Minoan settlements.
According to local tradition, the name of the monastery is derived from one of the ninety steps leading up to the main building. This step is said to be golden and visible only to devout Christians. The monastery is dedicated to the Holy Trinity and the Dormition of Virgin Mary.