The Monastery of Agios Pavlos is situated near the village of Paranymfoi in the Asterousia Mountains of southern Crete. This former monastery dates back to the Venetian period and served as a hermitage until the mid-20th century. The monastery’s location was strategically chosen along the route connecting Paranymfoi with the Monastery of Koudoumas, overlooking the dramatic cliffs and caves of the Asterousia range, which provided an ideal environment for ascetic life.
History
The monastery flourished during the time when the scholar Iosif Filagris led the nearby Monastery of the Three Hierarchs in Lousoudi. It remained active throughout the Venetian period but was stripped of its assets during the Ottoman rule. In the 19th century, residents of Paranymfoi and Platanias provided financial support for the monastery’s restoration; however, it eventually declined and was abandoned.
Architecture
The monastery church is a single-aisled basilica with a transept. The doorway is made of carved porous stone, typical of the Venetian era. To the south of the monastery, where the current storage room stands, was the monk’s cell. Traces of frescoes can still be seen inside the church. The courtyard reveals ruins of the monks’ cells, attached to the church building, as well as graves.
Archaeological Significance
The area has been inhabited since antiquity, likely favored by the presence of a spring, as evidenced by scattered pottery fragments throughout the area. There are also indications of a possible pre-existing ancient sanctuary that was looted by antiquities thieves.
Surroundings
Directly below the church begins the steep Porofarago gorge, above which passes the impressive hiking trail to the settlement of Treis Ekklisies (Three Churches). The monastery can be reached by a dirt road from Paranymfoi.
Key Features:
- Construction Period: Venetian Era (likely 14th century)
- Location: Near Paranymfoi village, Asterousia Mountains, Crete
- Historical Significance: Served as a hermitage and monastery, connected to the scholar Iosif Filagris
- Current Status: Abandoned, ruins remain
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