EnglishGreekDeutschFrenchItalianRussian
Crete TOURnet: Home Crete Guide Churches in Crete The Building Materials

The Building Materials

Ai Yannis Kyr-Yannis Church in the orange groves of Alikianos, Kydonia
Ai Yannis Kyr-Yannis Church in the orange groves of Alikianos, Kydonia
The large majority of churches in Crete were built with materials found nearby. Often building material from other older churches, or ancient Greek or Roman temples, are used. In some cases a site was used as a Minoan Sanctuary, then as a Greek temple, then as a Christian church. An example of a church built on a mosaic floor from a previous Byzantine church is the church of the Panagia in Thronos, Amari. The church of Agios Iasatos in Agios Thomas, Monofatsi, has been built on a large hewn rock and its yard is on top of a space formerly occupied by a temple of the Hellenistic Period. The church of Agios Kirikos in Lissos, Selino, has been built on top of an earlier basilica of the fifth or sixth century, and has used building material (like marble parts) from a temple of an earlier period. The churches of Ai Yanni Kyr-Yannis in Alikianos, Kydonia, Agios Pandeleimonas in Bizariano (Pigi) Pediada, and the Panagia Paliani in Venerato have used the capitals of columns from temples of previous eras.

Photos of The Building Materials:


Ruins in front of Agios Ioasaf Church, Agios Thomas
Ruins in front of Agios Ioasaf Church, Agios Thomas
The church of the Panagia in Thronos
The church of the Panagia in Thronos
A small table made from an ancient Corinthian column, Moni Palianis
A small table made from an ancient Corinthian column, Moni Palianis
Agios Kirikos Church near the beach in Lissos
Agios Kirikos Church near the beach in Lissos
A superimposed Corinthian capital, Agios Pandeleimonas Church, Pigi
A superimposed Corinthian capital, Agios Pandeleimonas Church, Pigi
Ai Yannis Kyr-Yannis Church in the orange groves of Alikianos, Kydonia
Ai Yannis Kyr-Yannis Church in the orange groves of Alikianos, Kydonia