Arkoudospilios Cave

Cave Arkoudospilios ( Bear Cave ) or the Cave of Panagia Arkoudiotissa is located above Katholiko gorge of Akrotiri near Chania , 2km north of the Gouverneto monastery , along the trail connecting Gouverneto monastery with Katholiko Monastery . The cave is an old riverbed that no longer exists and consists of a large room with some special partly-damaged decoration and smoke-blackened roof.

There is a smaller second room where one enters through a very narrow passage. After this the cave continues, but the opening is very narrow to fit a human body.

The name Arkoudospilios ( bear cave ) comes from the stalagmite in the form of a bear that is ready to drink water, located near the entrance of the cave. In front of the bear there is a small pond with water.

According to legend, Virgin Mary petrified the bear that was stealing the hard-to-find water by the hermits living in the cave, who were suffering from thirst. In the cave inscriptions have been found depicting the gods Apollo and Artemis .

According to archaeologists, the cave operated as a sanctuary in ancient Crete, dedicated to the goddess Artemis , which was transformed into a bear. Today, a chapel is housed inside the cave, dedicated to the Panagia (Virgin Mary) Arkoudiotissa .

The church celebrates on February 2 (the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple - Hypapante ), with many locals flocking to the cave and spending the night around fires. For this reason, the roof of the cave is smoked.