Churches

SAINT JOHN THE STRANGER
The church which was erected by Saint John the Stranger can be found in Kavousi, Platanos. The sainted John the Stranger is regarded as the major ecclesiastical personality in the history of the area. According to hearsay, his date of birth was at the end of the 10thcentury, in about 963. His birth place is the village of Siva on the plain of Messara (province of Iraklion). Proceeding to various places in Western Crete, he built monasteries and churches and finally he reached Falassarna. He led a solitary life in a cave in which he spent the rest of his life. In the cave area of the church you can see some segments of the 11th century, some representations of his life and the messengers of the Judgement Day.
Our church honors Saint John the Stranger on the 20th of September.

You can visit the church every Thurday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11.00 to 14.00 and 17.00 to 20.00.

SAINT FOTIS
Saint John the Stranger also built the church of Saint Fotis inside a cave around the 1010th century A.D. Saint Fotis is known for his miracles. Therefore, masses of believers come to worship his icon. It’s worth to note that the church of Saint Fotis in Falassarna is the only church in Greece which honors the Saint. There is a huge celebration with music and food every 12th of August.

SANTA PARASKEVI The church of Santa Paraskevi was also built in a cave just above the beach of Falassarna. It is said that it was also built by Santa John the Stranger. Our church celebrates Santa Paraskevi every 26th of July.

SAINT EUSTATIUS The icon of the Saint Eustatius can be found inside the same church of Saint John the Stranger. It is celebrated every
20th of September.

THE TRANSFIGURATION OF SOTIROS The Transfiguration of Sotiros is the main church in the village of Platanos and it is celebrated every 6th of August.

SAINT HARALAMBOS The icon of SaintHaralambos can be found in the church of The Transfiguration of Sotiros, the main church of Platanos. It is celebrated every
10th of February.

SAINT PANTELEIMON The icon of Saint Panteleimon can be found in the church of The Transfiguration of Sotiros, the main church of Platanos. It is celebrated every 27th of July.

MARY MYRTIDIOTISA The church Mary Myrtidiotisa was also built in the village of Platanos, next to the village’s primary school. It is celebrated on 24th of September.

THE THREE HIERARCHS The church of The Three Hierarchs can be found in the area of the ancient Falassarna and is celebrated on 30th of January.

SAINT GEORGE The church of Saint George was built above the ancient harbor of Falassarna and our church celebrates it on the 23th of April or Easter Monday.

SAINT NEKTARIOS The church of Saint Nektarios was built in the same area with Saint Nikolas in Livadi, Falassarna. The church of Saint Nektarios was built by a person from the village Platanos after a vision he/she saw. It is celebrate every on 9th of November.

THE BIRTH OF MARY The church of The Birth of Mary was also built in Livadi, Falassarna inside a rock. It is celebrated every 8th of Sertember.

ARCHAGEL MICHAEL AND GABRIEL The church of Archagel Michael Gabriel was also built in the same area of Saint John the Stranger and it is celebrated every 8th of November.

SAINT ANNE The church of Saint Anne is in the area of Kavousi, Platanos and is celebrated every 9th of December.

SAINT GEORGE METHYSTICS The church of Saint George Methystics was built in the area Hohlidokefala (two km west of the Limeniskos). It is celebrated every 3rd of November.

SAINT FANOURIOS The church of Saint Fanourios can be found at the harbor of Falassarna. It is celebrated every 27th of August with food and music.

SAINT CONSTANTINE The church of Saint Constantine has a panoramic view as it is located on the top of the hill before descending towards Falassarna . It is celebrated every 2st of May.

ALL SAINTS The church of All Saints is in the village of Platanos and it is celebrated 57 days after Easter.

SAINT ATHANASIOS The church of Saint Athanasios is in the middle of the highest mountain (Prophetis Elias-Mannas) in the village Platanos. It is said that there was the old village around the church. It is celebrated every 2nd of May.

SAINT EPHREM The church of Saint Ephrem is in the area Kavousi, Platanos and it is celebrated every 5th of May.

SAINT ANTONY The church of Saint Antony is in the area of Sfinari but it is part of the parish of Platanos. It is celebrated every 17th of January.

THE ASSUMPTION OF MARY The church of the Assumption of Mary is in the area Selia, Platanos. It is celebrated every 15th of August with food and music after 15 days of fasting.

THE LIFE GIVING SPRING The church of Zoodohou Pigi is highland on the outskirts of the village Platanos. It is celebrated the first Friday after Easter.

THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD The church of the Presentation of the Lord is in the area Lagka, Platanos and is celebrated every 2nd of February.

SAINT GEORGE The church of Saint George is in the area of Ancient Falassarna. It is celebrated every 23rd of April or Easter Monday.

APOSTLE PAUL The church of Apostle Paul is in the southern part of the bay of Falassarna and is celebrated every 29th of July.

THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD The church of The Ascension of the Lord can be found in the area Lakopithi, Platanos and is celebrated 40 days after Easter.

SAINT JOHN THE CHRISTOSTOMOS The church of Saint John the Christostomos can be found in the area of Lagka, Platanos. It is celebrated every 13th of November.

THE BIRTH OF MARY The church of The Entrance of Mary can be found in the area of Vrisses, Platanos. It is celebrated every 8th of September.

KOSMAS AETOLIAN The church of Kosmas Aetolian can be found in the area Halepa, Platanos. It is celebrated every 24th of August.

SAINT ZACHARIA The church of Saint Zacharia can be found in the area of Rapanas, near the harbor of Falassarna. It is celebrated every 5th of September.

SAINT NIKOLAS The church of Saint Nikolas can be found above the area of Livadi, Platanos. It was built by Saint John the Stranger. It is celebrated every 6th of December.

PROPHET ELIAS The church of Prophet Elias was built on the top of the highest mountain in Platanos (Prophet Elias-Mannas). Many believers walk up to the top of the mountain to worship and honor the Prophet. It is celebrated every 20th of July with food and music.

SAINT DIMITRIOS The church of Saint Dimitrio can be found the area of Vrisses. It is celebrated every 26th of October.

THE HONORABLE CROSS The church can be found in the area of Lardas and it is celebrated every 14th of September.

SAINT JOHN THE STRANGER

The figure of Saint John The Stranger dominated the 11th century in Crete. He came from the village of Sivas province of Pyrgiotissis (Messara Heraklion). He was born in the middle of the 10th century, which was under the Emperor of Constantinople Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus (Emperor of the Byzantine Empire), around 963 from rich parents. From an early age Saint John loved the monastic life and renounced non-religious activities so he decided to leave for the deserted parts of Crete, praying to God and living an angelic life. His love of God gave him the strength to endure the heat during the day and the bitter cold at night. After many years of living in solitude he decided to walk up mount Araxos (Asterousia). There after a revelation from God he finds two monuments in a cave and builds the Church of Saint Eftychianou and Eftichiou in this isolated area he becomes a monk.
After some time he departs the area and goes to Mount Miriokefala (current Myriokefala in Rethymno). There he loses his sight but after seven days of continuous pray he gets his sight back and gives thanks to Saint Mary. So after another revelation he builds the Monastry of the Blessed Virgin of Antiphonetria. Later he leaves the area out of modesty because he wants to avoid being honoured by the Christians, but also so that he can offer similar works which please God in other areas. He continues to Melika in Chamovousi (current Pigadiana in Rethymno) and there he builds the Church of Saint George. Then he reaches the area of Aritou (current Stavromenos in Rethymno) where after a miracle he builds the church of Saint George Opsaropiasti. Then he reaches the area of Mousselas and builds the Church of Saint Patapios. Later Saint John wanting to avoid the reverence and love from the Christians, he moved on towards the west and reaches the village Koufo in the province of Kydonias Chania and builds the Church of the Blessed Virgin Zoodochos Pigi in 1004. Later he departs for the province of Selino and on his way in a coastal part he builds the Church of Saint Paul. When he reaches the Province of Selino in the village of Azogyres he builds the Church of Saint George.
Later when Saint John The Stranger sees that a crowd of Christians is following him and he isn’t able to pray and be devoted to God he decides to flee to the west coast of the Province of Kissamos to the village Akti (current Platanos). In the area of Kavousi, where the area was uninhabited and liked Saint John, he builds in a cave his sanctuary, the Church of Saint Eustatius. Saint John wanted to enlarge the cave to the south to use it as a hermitage. This part of the cave is now known as the Church of Saint John The Stranger, which has a few wall murals of the 13th century. There he wanted to rest in peace around 1031 as it is mentioned in his Will. Also next to the church his grave was found. However, the remains of Saint John were moved to Corfu because of fear that the wicked invaders would destroy them. His honourable skull was found in the village of Saint John or Tsouroumiana.
His memory is honored on 20th of September.
Also in the wider area of Platanos Saint John built other Churches in caves. For example the Church of Saint Fotis and Anikitou in 1010 according to the inscription on the walls in the church. The nativity (birth) of the Virgin and Saint Nicholas were recorded by paintings in the location Livadi. In Platanos there is the oldest portable icon of Saint John, work of the 16th century.
The two-aisled cavernous Holy pilgrimage Church of Saint John The Stranger is of great archaelogical value, and in 2013 was fundamentally renovated with donations from the residents of Platanos.

You can visit the church every Thurday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11.00 to 14.00 and 17.00 to 20.00.