Saint Anthony Church at Avdou

The church of Saint Anthony ( Agios Antonios ) is located at the western end of the village Avdou and is a small single-nave vaulted church built in the 13th - 14th century. The church bears frescoes of Emmanuel and Ioannis Fokas .

It is the only case in Crete of bicolored frescoes. The painters used only the reddish - brown and blue - lilac colors.

The frescoes depict Saints and 11 evangelic scenes: Birth, Baptism, Candlemas, Supper, Washing of the Feet, Crucifixion, Epitaph, Descent into Hades, Women at the Tomb, Transfiguration, Ascension . The strong curvature of the body of the crucified Christ causes a realistic impression of passion and the furious attitudes of the Apostles during Ascension express vividly the turn of new art towards life and truth .