Saint Demetrius church at Viran Episkopi

Viran Episkopi is a beautiful village on the western border of the province Mylopotamos and its strange name means ruined Episkopi ( Viran in Turkish means ruin and Episkopi in Greek means Diocese). According to Gerola , the village was founded after the liberation of Crete from the Arabs, when some of the old dioceses changed their base.

Among them was the diocese of Agrios or Arios , which was moved to this place. It is believed that the new seat of the Diocese of Agrios (or Eleftherni ) was the currently restored church of the Saint Irene in Viran Episkopi , around which traces of an imposing three-aisled basilica with interesting architectural parts have been found.

However, there is another imposing temple in the area which is believed that was the episcopal seat, although archaeologists have revealed that it served the bath of the bishops, and this was built on the site of an ancient temple of Artemis .