Moni Gonias Monastery Library Officially Inaugurated in Crete

Tuesday, 26 May 2026/Source: Haniotika Nea/1 min read

In April 1988, the library of Moni Gonias (Gonias Monastery) in Kolympari was officially inaugurated in a modest ceremony. Located on the Rodopou Peninsula in western Crete, about 24 kilometers north of Chania, this 17th-century Orthodox monastery is one of the island's most historically significant religious sites. The library addition marked an important step in preserving the monastery's extensive collection of manuscripts, religious texts, and historical documents. Today, Moni Gonias remains open to visitors and houses a small museum alongside its library, displaying icons, vestments, and artifacts spanning several centuries. Tourists visiting the Chania region can include it as a half-day trip combined with the nearby village of Kolympari. Modest dress is required to enter. The monastery sits directly on the seafront, offering views across the Bay of Chania toward the Akrotiri Peninsula.