Panagia Kaliviani

The Monastery of Panagia Kaliviani is located on the island of Crete, between the prefectures of Rethymno and Heraklion, in the mountainous terrain. The monastery acquired its name from the nearby hamlet of Kalivia, which is why it is called Panagia (Virgin Mary) Kaliviani. It is located 5 kilometers from Moires village.

The monastery was most likely founded in the late 19th or early 20th century, while the exact year is uncertain. According to legend, the land on which this monastery was erected once belonged to a Turkish man. The Turkish authority, however, offered this area to the Orthodox people to build a church when a Holy Icon of the Virgin was discovered in it.

This modest chapel was erected in 1911 and may now be seen in the Monastery’s yard. It contains three aisles, each of which is devoted to the Virgin Mary’s Birth, Pronunciation, and Assumption. It was built in the Byzantine era and has Byzantine architecture. Inside the new chapel, there is a holy image of the Virgin.