Panagia Mirtidiotissa church at Lastros

At the western village of Sitia province, Lastros we meet the church of Panagia Myrtidiotissa at position Sygomalia. The chapel celebrates every year on September 24th and is one of the few called "Myrtidiotissa" in Crete.

The church is located at an idyllic countryside location overlooking the sea and the village of Lastros. The area is covered by maquis vegetation of wild olive, oak, locust trees and brushwood.

At the point where the road meets the church there is a stone fountain with cold water all year round. The carved stone fountain was built during the Turkish occupation and stands there even today.

From the fountain stairs descend to the courtyard of the church where there is a large cistern that gathers the water to distribute at the various local tree farms. The church is quite old but there are no traces of frescoes, which are either covered by brush or did not exist at all.

The interior is dominated by the icon of Panagia Mirtidiotissa and several other icons of saints.