Byzantine Crete

Church of Agios Pavlos near Agia Roumeli

Introduction

Crete belonged to the Byzantine Empire in two periods: first from 395 (split of the Roman Empire) to the 820s (Arab conquest), and then from 961 (Byzantine reconquest) to 1204 (Venetian conquest). Many buildings survive in Crete from these periods, most notably churches. Remains of Byzantine fortresses and baths can also be found.

The oldest Cretan churches that can be identified today are Early Christian basilicas. These are all in a ruined state now. One can also see a big number of aisleless and two-aisled churches here, many built in the Byzantine period. More interesting are Byzantine churches with a dome. The oldest of these date from the 6th century and most were built in the 11th and 12th centuries. The spread of the cruciform plan with a dome can be credited to Saint John the Hermit (Agios Ioannis Xenos), an ascetic and a missionary who founded several monasteries and churches of this type in the western parts of the island in the early 11th century. Despite Crete being a province, many churches from these periods were designed following the contemporary architectural trends of the centres of the Byzantine Empire.

The interior walls of the churches were covered with frescoes. The best known examples of what can be called Byzantine frescoes are actually from the first centuries of the Venetian era.

Sites

Below I will introduce 14 buildings from the first and second Byzantine periods in Crete. My portfolios are in no way complete, but they include some of the most famous examples.

Church of Archangelos Michail in Episkopi near Kolymvari | 1 km north of Episkopi village, Platanias municipality, Chania regional unit | second half of 6th century
Byzantine walls of Chania | Karaoli kai Dimitriou & Sifaka Streets, Chania | 6th to 7th & 10th centuries
Church of Agios Titos in Gortyna | Archaeological site of Gortyna, Gortyna municipality, Heraklion regional unit | 6th to 10th century
Church of Agios Nikolaos in Ormos | Ormos neighbourhood, Agios Nikolaos | 8th or early 9th century
Church of Agios Dimitrios near Pigi | Agios Dimitrios village, Rethymno municipality, Rethymno regional unit | Early 11th century
Church of Zoodochos Pigi near Koufos | between Koufos & Alikianos villages, Platanias municipality, Chania regional unit | c. 1030; early 14th century (?)
Church of Agios Pavlos near Agia Roumeli | 4 km southeast of Agia Roumeli village, Sfakia municipality, Chania regional unit | c. 1040
Church of Panagia near Fodele | 1 km northwest of Fodele village, Malevizi municipality, Heraklion regional unit | 11th century
Byzantine bath in Episkopi near Ierapetra | Episkopi village, Ierapetra municipality, Lasithi regional unit | 11th century
Byzantine bath in Kato Episkopi near Sitia | Kato Episkopi village, Sitia municipality, Lasithi regional unit | 11th century
Church of Panagia in Lampini | Lampini village, Agios Vasileios municipality, Rethymno regional unit | 11th or 12th century
Church of Panagia Zerviotissa near Stylos | 1 km north of Stylos village, Apokoronas municipality, Chania regional unit | 11th or 12th century
Church of Agios Nikolaos near Kyriakosellia | 1 km northeast of Kyriakosellia village, Apokoronas municipality, Chania regional unit | 11th or early 12th century; first half of 13th century
Church of Panagia Kera near Kritsa | 1 km east of Kritsa village, Agios Nikolaos municipality, Lasithi regional unit | original aisleless church – Byzantine period (?); three-aisled church – 13th century; most frescoes – first half of 14th century

Notable structures that are missing include the Church of Agios Eftychios in Chromonastiri (Rethymno), the Monastery of Panagia Antifonitria in Myriokefala (Rethymno), and the Monastery of Panagia Gouverniotissa near Potamies (Heraklion). These churches were all built in the late 10th or early 11th century.