Church of Saint George of Grotta in Rethymnon

The church of Saint George of Grotta is a small one-storey church that stands in a narrow street in the old town of Rethymnon and dates back to the 16th century. The identification of the present church with the homonymous temple of the Venetian archives is not certain, as there were three churches dedicated to Saint George in the city.

Especially during the Turkish occupation, Saint George was the only Orthodox church in the city of Rethymnon. The name Grotta , which means a cave in Latin, may refer to this secret and remote corner of the city, since there is no cave around.

The present church is the result of renovation of 1954 and hosts a small belfry. The interior hosts an iconostasis with the icon of Saint George by the painter Ioannis Fragopoulos (1844), while the sanctuary has an icon of Saint George by the painter Konstantinos Sinopeas (1871).

It is said that during the feast of Saint George during the Turkish occupation, the Ottoman ruler offered his horse to the Orthodox head to ride it to the temple. Although it sounds strange, the Turks are known to respect Saint George and often worship him.