Mariou, Agios Vassilios

Mariou (Μαριού) is a village in the Rethymno regional unit on the island of Crete, Greece. It is part of the municipality of Agios Vasileios, and the local community of Mariou. It is located 30 kilometers from Rethymno at an altitude of 220 meters. The village’s name is believed to have originated from a shepherdess named Mario who lived in the area.

Historical Background

Southeast of the village, on the slopes of Mount Kouroupa, there are ruins of a Minoan settlement dating from the Early Minoan to the Late Minoan period. The village is mentioned in Venetian records, specifically by Francesco Barozzi in 1577 as Mariu, and in the Venetian census of 1583 as having 49 inhabitants. In the 1834 census organized by the Egyptians, the village had a purely Christian population of 14 families. By the 1881 census, it had 161 Christian inhabitants. In 1928, Mariou was designated as the seat of its own community.

Religious Sites

• Cave Church of Agios Onoufrios: Located north of the village. Its facade is a simple wall, with the interior set in a natural rocky cavity at the base of a steep limestone slope. The church is celebrated on June 12th.
• Cave Church of Agios Antonios: Situated east of the village near the road. It is surrounded by water springs.
• Church of Hypapanti: Located within the village, dating back to the Ottoman period.
• Church of Agios Vlasios: Built in 1912 by the monk Ioannikios.

Settlement: Key Points

• Location: 30 kilometers from Rethymno, Crete, Greece.
• Altitude: 220 meters.
• Historical Significance: Evidence of a Minoan settlement nearby.
• Population Data:

References

• Wikipedia