Heraklion Agia Irini Monastery

Location: Kroussonas

The Monastery of Agia Irini is located on the outskirts of Kroussonas, 20 kilometers to the southwest of Heraklion Town, on the foothills of Mount Ida. It is a two-aisled church with one aisle dedicated to Saint Irene and the other to the Assumption of Mary.

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This convent is believed to date to the 14th or 15th century, although the exact date is unknown. Its earliest surviving attestation dates to the late 16th century under Hegumen Ionas (Jonah) Danilis. During the 17th century, the monastery fell within the Mudazzo (or Muazzo) family’s fiefdom, and eventually became one of Crete’s wealthiest monasteries.

It is believed to have thrived well into the Ottoman period, although most of its history has been lost, due to its destruction at the hands of Ottoman forces in 1822. Crete was in armed rebellion at this time and the monastery served as refuge for local rebels, which led the Sultan’s forces to burn down the monastery and kill all of its monks.

After lying in ruin for more than a century, reconstruction was undertaken in 1944 and it has since been used as a convent, considered one of Crete’s most active monasteries. It is open to the public and offers a wonderful view of the lowlands to the east. Its charming aesthetic makes it an attractive stop for those exploring the eastern parts of Mount Ida, while a crypt dating to the original phase of construction is preserved in the katholikon’s western end.