Keras Kardiotissas Monastery

The katholikon of Kardiotissas monastery.

The Keras Kardiotissas Monastery or simply Keras Monastery (Greek: Μονή Κεράς Καρδιώτισσας or Μονή Κεράς) is an Eastern Orthodox monastery dedicated to Virgin Mary that is situated near the village of Kera of the Heraklion regional unit in Crete, Greece. It is built on the north slopes of Mt. Dikti, at an altitude of 650 m and a location that is approximately 50 km east of Heraklion, next to the road to Lasithi Plateau.

History

The exact date of the monastery's establishment is unknown. However, references to it are made in manuscripts dating from the early fourteenth century.^[1] The monastery was named after an old icon of Theotokos that according to tradition was miraculous. That icon was stolen in 1498 by a wine merchant and transferred to Rome where it is now permanently enshrined in the Church of St. Alphonsus near the Esquiline Hill.^[2] The stolen icon was replaced by another one in 1735 that is also regarded as miraculous. During the Ottoman occupation of Crete, the monastery often served as a local revolutionary center and suffered several retaliatory attacks as a result. In 1720, Kera monastery became Stauropegic (independent of the local Bishop).

Architecture

The monastery is surrounded by fortified walls. The main church (katholikon) was originally built as an arch-covered single space structure and was later expanded with two narthexes and a smaller chapel. The church features murals dating to the 14th and 15th centuries.

Current status

Today, the monastery functions as a nunnery. It celebrates the birth of Mary on September 8th every year.

References

1. Θ. Δετοράκης, Ν. Ψιλάκης, Α. Χατζηκωστής. Τα μοναστήρια της Κρήτης, εκδ. Τράπεζας Κρήτης, Αθήνα 1986.
2. "Our Lady of Perpetual Help". Redemptorists.net. Retrieved 2015-11-29.

Coordinates: 35°13′28″N 25°27′41″E / 35.224521°N 25.461519°E