Agios Antonios Monastery

Agios Antonios Monastery

  • LocationExit of Arvi Gorge, 90 km from Heraklion
  • HistoryBuilt on the ruins of the temple of Arvios Zeus
  • Religious significanceTwo churches dedicated to Saint Anthony

The Monastery of Saint Anthony, located dramatically on the cliffs at the exit of the Arvi Gorge, in the Viannos Municipality, is about 90 kilometers southeast of Heraklion. Visitors often refer to it as the "Meteora of Crete" due to its stunning location. The monastery was likely built around 1880 by Monk Artemios on the ruins of the ancient temple of Arvios Zeus and was later moved to a higher location due to marshland​.

The monastery has two churches dedicated to Saint Anthony and during the occupation, it served as a refuge for those fleeing the Germans. Although it was later abandoned, the monastery experienced periods of prominence and held great spiritual and religious significance.