Lassithi Agios Georgios Selinari Monastery

Location: Sissi

Ιn the heart of Selinari Gorge, the Monastery of Saint George was initially constructed in the 16th century by a monk who found an image of Saint George in that location.

The old monastery was dissolved in the 19th century, while the current convent was established in 1961. The complex consists of two levels and the entrance gate has been decorated with mosaics and a pediment. In the courtyard, you will find a stone fountain with relief sculptures, dating back to 1923. Near the fountain, you can see the Venetian chapel dedicated to Saint George. Though the chapel itself is old, the murals inside it were painted after the monastery was reconstructed.

To the west, you can see two modern churches dedicated to the Epiphany and the Resurrection of Christ, as well as a two-storey complex housing offices, the monks’ cells and an Ecclesiastical Museum.

Opposite the monastery is a steep rocky hill called Anavlochos, where traces of a post-Minoan settlement have been identified. It is there that Nikolaos, the monk who founded the convent, was buried upon his death. The cave is accessible via a rough trail, but you need to be in good shape to attempt the ascent.