Kryoneri, Mylopotamos

Kryoneri is a small village in the Mylopotamos municipality of Rethymno regional unit on the island of Crete, Greece. It is located 46 km southeast of Rethymno town at an altitude of 370 meters.

History

Evidence suggests the area has been inhabited since the Minoan era. During road construction, a section of a Minoan storage pithos (large jar) was discovered. Further excavation revealed a storage room measuring 4.5 by 2.5 meters containing three pithoi. Locals also report finding figurines, possibly from the Archaic period, in the Valani and Lagoufia areas southwest of the village.

The village is first mentioned in Venetian documents from the 16th century under the name Assirotus. The name appears in Francesco Barozzi’s 1577 description of the Mylopotamos province, and again in the 1583 Venetian census by Castrofylaka with a population of 143 inhabitants. Francesco Basilicata also lists it in 1630. An Ottoman census from 1671 records the name as Astirotos with 12 households. The original name, Assirotus/Astirotos, likely derives from a person’s name and roughly translates to “he who has not been baptized.” The modern name, Kryoneri, which means “cold spring,” refers to a spring located in the village and was officially adopted in 1955.

In the 1881 census, Kryoneri had 73 inhabitants, all Christians, and belonged to the municipality of Damasta. By 1900, the population had grown to 116. In 1920, it became the seat of its own community. This status was briefly lost in 1925 when it was annexed to the community of Aimona, but was reinstated in 1930. Kryoneri remained an independent community until the 1997 administrative reform, when it became part of the newly formed municipality of Kouloukonas.

Population

Kryoneri has experienced a steady decline in population throughout the 20th century.

Religious Sites

The main church in Kryoneri is the single-aisled church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Built in 1810, it houses a portable icon from 1670. The village also has a church dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul.

Near Kryoneri is the Halepa Monastery, dedicated to the Transfiguration and the Nativity of Christ. This Venetian-era monastery is built in a fortified style. A passageway on the southwest side leads to the central courtyard, around which are the abbot’s quarters, the refectory, and the main church (katholikon). The monastery is currently under restoration. In the early 20th century, an attempt was made to build a new church, but it was never completed. The old church still stands. Like the nearby monastery of Agia Marina, Halepa Monastery was abandoned during the Cretan Revolt (1866-1869). It later became a dependency of Vosakos Monastery. Only the katholikon of Agia Marina Monastery survives, with its interior frescoes still visible.

Kryoneri Community

The Kryoneri Community encompasses Kryoneri village itself and two smaller settlements, Agridia and Tsachiana. According to the 2011 census, the population breakdown is as follows:

• Agridia: 69
• Kryoneri: 28
• Tsachiana: 22

The total population of the Community is 119.

Village Key Points

• Historical References: First mentioned as Assirotus in 1577.
• Location: 46 km southeast of Rethymno town, Crete, Greece.
• Historical Significance: Evidence of Minoan habitation.
• Population data over the years: See table above.
• Current Status: Small village with declining population.