Moni Keras, Orthodox monastery in Hersonissos Municipality, Greece
Moni Keras is an Orthodox monastery located at 650 meters altitude on the northern slopes of Mount Dikti. The complex features a main church with valuable frescoes and additional structures arranged around a central area.
The monastery was first mentioned in manuscripts from 1301 and gained independence from local bishops in 1720 during Ottoman occupation of Crete. This autonomy marked an important turning point in its administration and operation.
The monastery displays frescoes from the 14th and 15th centuries in its main church, reflecting medieval religious artistic traditions on Crete. The iconography and painting styles point to Orthodox-Byzantine artistic development during this period.
The monastery is accessible to visitors year-round, with opening hours varying between summer and winter seasons. It is advisable to wear comfortable shoes and prepare for mountain terrain and partly unpaved paths.
The monastery houses a miraculous icon from 1735 that replaced an original icon now kept in the Church of Saint Alphonsus in Rome. This connection between the Cretan monastery and Rome illustrates the far-reaching religious networks of Byzantine and Orthodox traditions.
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