Gouverneto Monastery
The Gouverneto Monastery, also known as Our Lady of the Angels, is a Greek Orthodox monastery on the Akrotiri peninsula of the Chania region of Crete, Greece. It is located approximately from Chania, and is approximately north of the Agia Triada Monastery.
History
Completed in 1537, the Gouverneto Monastery is reputed to be one of the oldest monasteries in Crete. A census held in 1637, recorded shortly before the Turkish invasion, revealed that at the time there were 60 monks living there, making it one of the largest in Crete at the time.During World War II, the Germans established a guardhouse in the monastery to control the area. Since 2005 it has undergone restoration work by the monks.
Features
The monastery is a Venetian-style fortress with towers at each end, and some Baroque Revival influences added later. It measures approximately and contains rooms for approximately 50 monks over two floors. The courtyard is rectangular shaped and is dominated by a dome church with an ornate Venetian façade; the church is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The chapel in the courtyard is reported to have some of the oldest frescoes in Crete.To the west side of the monastery is the narthex, with chapels dedicated to St. John the Hermit and the Ten Holy Martyrs. There are some notable monsters carved in relief on the front of the church. A cave called Arkouditissa or Arkoudia, is also located in the vicinity. Here the goddess Artemis was once worshiped.
The monastery is officially closed on Wednesdays and Fridays.