Lord Christ church at Kassani

A few meters southwest to the village Kassani of Pediada province and near the old village fountain there is the single-nave arched church of the Savior Christ dedicated to the Birth of Jesus . It was built on the site of an older temple, as evidenced by the shape of the arch of the sanctuary.

Steps lead us from the village to the place. The interior preserves three layers of murals representing three different phases of the Cretan hagiography.

The first layer of the late 13th century includes the frescoes at the arch of the sanctuary; the second layer of the early 14th century includes the Ascension at the arch of the main temple; the third (early 15th century) includes the frescoes at the arch and the sides of the sanctuary. The iconographic program includes several scenes from the Christological cycle.

Among the depictions, it is noteworthy to mention Mary of Egypt and the monk Zosimas right of the entrance, the rare depiction of the Saint Constantine riding a horse carrying the Holy Cross on the shoulder next to other equestrian saints in the northern wall step.