Saint John Farangitis monastery at Almiros

The church of Saint Anthony in the gorge Almiros was the main church of the former monastery of Saint John Farangitis (i.e. canyoner) that flourished in the period 1350-1669, during the Venetian Era. Although the monastery was well hidden in the gorge of Almiros , when in 1669 the entire Crete came under the rule of the Turks, the monastery was destroyed completely.

Today there are only some ruins of the old monastery complex surviving. The main temple has two aisles and is dedicated to Saint Anthony and Saint Paraskevi with important frescoes.

Next to the church of Saint Anthony there is also the church of Saint Marina , which was the church of the monastery cemetery. These three churches give the canyon Almiros one of its seven names, the Gorge of the Three Churches .

Deeper into the gorge you will meet another shrine dedicated to Saint George , while at the start of the gorge there is the old church of Lord Christ .