Panagia Thymiani Monastery at Komitades

The monastery of Panagia Thymiani is located near the village Komitades , province Sfakia at position Thyme Armi and is one of the most historic sites in Crete. The first single-aisled church probably existed before the 15th century, but there is no information about the exact time of its foundation, and it is believed that it was adorned with frescoes.

The first temple existed since the 15th century, but during the revolution of Daskalogiannis (1770), it was burned down by the Turks. A new double-aisled church was built, dedicated to the Nativity of the Virgin Mary ( Panagia ) and the Holy Trinity (Agia Triada) .

The miraculous icon of Panagia soon increased the fame and fortune of the church, and soon was inhabited by a few monks. In 1905 the monastery became a dependency of the Monastery Preveli .

Here on May 29, 1821, the chieftains of Crete preached revolution against the Ottoman Empire. Therefore, the monastery is also called Agia Lavra of Crete ( Agia Lavra is a monastery in Peloponnese from where the great Greek Revolution of 1821 started, leading to the liberation of Greece).

Every year at the monastery there is an anniversary event for the revolution of 1821.