Monastery of Agios Ioannis Gkionas at Spatha

The Monastery of Agios Ioannis Gkionas is located on the Rodopou peninsula (also known as Spatha), 37km northwest of Chania and 9.5km from the village of Rodopou, on the small plateau of Gkionas. Along with the monastery of Peter and Paul, a few kilometers to the south, it flourished during the late Venetian rule. After the conquest of Crete by the Turks, both were granted to the monastery of Odigitria Gonia, which gathered a multitude of small monastic complexes as its dependencies.

The monastery is mentioned in the census of churches and monasteries of 1637 as the monastery of Agios Ioannis of Chiona (San Zuanne sto Chiona) in the Rodopou area with an annual income of one hundred hyperpyra. It was declared by a hieromonk named Anthimos. Another version describes the monastery as a “skete” of the monastery of Agios Pavlos.

The church was built in the 16th century as a single-aisled structure and gradually expanded into a double-aisled one, although pottery and coins from the 12th century have been found in a small cistern inside the church. The second aisle is dedicated to Agios Nikolaos and is only used on December 6th. Around the church are ruins of buildings from the monks’ cells, while two millstones found on the site indicate that an olive press was in operation. In 1995, during conservation work, 7 graves were found under the floor, probably of priests and monks.

There are many stories, legends, and tales of miracles about Agios Ioannis of Gkionas that have solidified people’s faith. This is why every year, on August 29th, at the festival of Gkionas, thousands of pilgrims from all over the island gather to offer their votives and stay in the cells. The service on August 29th in Gkionas always takes place at night. It starts at 2.00 a.m. and ends around 5.00 a.m.

There is a legend about the plane tree outside the church, perhaps the only one on the entire Spatha peninsula. It is said that a monk from the monastery brought a plane tree branch from Nopigia. When he returned, tired from the road and the hot summer sun, he stuck the stick in the ground, saying: “If the Saint is a miracle worker, let this stick sprout”.

The small monastery of Agios Ioannis Prodromos in the valley of Gkionas, on the Spatha peninsula of Kissamos, is one of the largest pilgrimage sites in Crete.

The history of the church

The church of Agios Ioannis Prodromos in the valley of Gkionas was built in the 16th century, initially as a single-aisled church and later expanded into a double-aisled one, with the second aisle dedicated to Agios Nikolaos. Inside the church, 7 graves were found, while outside it, a twin, vaulted building and cells are preserved. In the courtyard of the church is the mythical plane tree, whose leaves grow upside down. According to legend, a monk, tired from the road and the heat, brought a branch of a plane tree from Nopigia and, sticking it in the ground, said: “If the Saint is a miracle worker, let this stick sprout”. A special feature of the pilgrimage in the past was the baptism of many children who were “tasimarika” (dedicated to the Saint).

Construction Period

• 16th century (with evidence of earlier structures)

Location

• Rodopou peninsula (Spatha), 37km northwest of Chania, Crete, Greece

Historical Significance

• Flourished during late Venetian rule
• Became a dependency of the Odigitria Gonia monastery after the Turkish conquest
• Associated with numerous miracles and legends

Current Status

• Active pilgrimage site with annual festival on August 29th