by Dilinato Parish: 6-Day Crete Pilgrimage Program (Chania – Rethymno – Heraklion)
Published: Monday, 01 May 2023 09:14
PROGRAM of the 6-day pilgrimage trip CRETE – CHANIA – RETHYMNO – HERACLEION 05-10/06/2023
1st Day: Monday 05/06/2023- KEFALONIA- PIRAEUS Morning departure from Metropolis to the port of Poros with destination to the port of Piraeus. Intermediate stop, on the way to Piraeus, to eat. Arrival at the end of the afternoon at the port of Piraeus and embarkation on the boat bound for Chania in Crete. Accommodation in cabins and overnight stay.
2nd Day: Tuesday 06/06/2023 – CHANIA-SOUDA-HOLY TRINITY-MONI KORAKIES Arrival early in the morning at the port of Chania in Souda. Boarding the bus to the Monastery of the Holy Trinity of Tzagaroli. This particular monastery is one of the most impressive monasteries in Crete, with a special history from 1611 to today. After finishing our tour, it’s our turn to visit the city of Chania. Chania is a coastal city in northwestern Crete, with one of its most important ports. It is the second largest city on the island and considered one of the most beautiful cities in the Mediterranean. At the end of our visit, we will have lunch in a traditional tavern. Flooded with beautiful images and tastes, we will head to the hotel, to settle down and rest in our rooms. In the early afternoon, we will visit the Holy Monastery of the Holy Forerunner of Korakia. This particular monastery stands out for its history, but also for its antiquity, dating back to around 1453. End of the day with free time and overnight at the hotel.
3rd Day: Wednesday 07/06/2023 – IM CHRYSOPIGIS – IM GONIAS—ORTHODOX ACADEMY OF CRETE – THERISSO – After having breakfast at the hotel, we leave to visit IM Chrysopigis. From the 16th century until recently there has been a male monastery, another monastery with a long history for all these years. We continue to visit IM Gonia, otherwise known as Monastery of Our Lady of the Angels of Gonia, due to its location at the western end of the bay of Chania, which looks like a “corner”. Gonia Monastery has played an important role in local history. It has always been a hotbed of resistance to all the conquerors of Crete and for this reason it has been repeatedly destroyed by various conquerors, as still testified by a violin nailed to its eastern wall. We continue our visit to the Orthodox Academy of Crete, which is an institution working within the framework of the Holy Metropolis of Kissamos and Selinos and the Church of Crete, which has a semi-autonomous status under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The spiritual patron of OAK is the Ecumenical Patriarch, whose name is mentioned in all Foundation rites. Next stop in a historic village in the municipality of Chania, Therisos. A village built at the foot of the White Mountains and close to the “Eleftherios Venizelos” gorge. An important monument of the village is the Holy Church of Agios Georgios, which dates back to the second half of the 16th century. In Therisos there are also two museums where weapons, documents, photographic material and personal effects of Eleftherios Venizelos are exhibited in one. At the same time, in 2003, the local National Resistance Museum was inaugurated, which displays weapons, objects of fighters, newspaper clippings and other exhibits related to the period 1941-1945. And somewhere here , in a traditional tavern, we will have lunch and a little later we will board the bus to return to the hotel to rest and spend some free time.
4th Day: Thursday 08/06/2023 – IM ARKADIOU – IM PALIANIS-RETHYMNO – HERACLEION After finishing our breakfast, we leave the hotel with our luggage as we will be transferred to the largest prefecture of Crete, Heraklion. So, starting, before reaching Heraklion, we will also visit the traditional Rethymnon, with IM Arkadiou. The monastery of Arkadiou became known in the different periods of its life for different events each time. In the 17th century, it was a famous center for copying manuscripts, an activity which provided considerable income for the monks of the monastery. Several of these manuscripts are preserved to this day and some are also displayed in the museum today. It’s our turn to visit the beautiful town of Rethymno. We will visit the beach and the alleys of the city while enjoying our lunch in a local restaurant. Then we will head to Heraklion, first making a stop at IM Palianis, a convent. It is one of the oldest monasteries in Crete. It is worth visiting to learn the history of a century-old tree that exists in the courtyard, as well as to admire the nuns who live in the monastery to live from their work, embroidering fabrics, blankets having a permanent exhibition of knitting and embroidery. Our final destination for this day is beautiful Heraklion. Arrival at the hotel, storage in the rooms and rest.
5th Day: Friday 09/06/2023 – HERACLEIO – IN AGIOU MINA – IN AGIOU TITOU – SPINALONGA – LIONTARAKIA Our last day in beautiful Crete, and after our breakfast, we will leave the hotel to visit Heraklion. First we will visit the Metropolitan Church of Agios Minas. It is the largest temple in Crete, as well as one of the largest temples in Greece. Then stop at the church of Agios Titos. One of the oldest temples on the island, where the sacred chariot of Agios Titos is kept. It’s our turn to visit the island of Spinalonga. An island whose history still inspires wonder since it was a Venetian fortress, castle-state, refuge for rebels, place of exile for lepers, communication link with Cairo during the Occupation. Both from the point of view of construction and architecture as well as the aesthetics of the whole landscape, the island still retains its unparalleled beauty. Back in Heraklion, we will rest with lunch in a restaurant in the region, to continue our visit a little later. We will return to Heraklion to see the monument to the famous lions, one of the most attractive Venetian monuments that you keep in very good condition. At the end of our day, we will enjoy our last walks before disembarking the boat from the port of Heraklion to Piraeus. Boarding the boat in the evening and departure.
6th Day: Saturday 10/06/2023 – PIRAEUS – KYLLINI-KEFALONIA Arrival early in the morning at the port of Piraeus and after disembarking from the boat we resume the journey back to the port of Kyllini. During the route we will make stops for rest and food. At the end of the afternoon we will be back in Argostoli.
Dates Monday 05/06/2023 – Saturday 10/06/2023 (5 nights) Hotels Accommodation in single bed 3*** (triple)
In Chania and Heraklion Participation costs € 390.00 – per person Single room is subject to a supplement. The cost is calculated based on availability (ships and hotels). Board Breakfast INCLUDED: Transport in luxury air-conditioned coaches. Ferry tickets. Two (2) stays in a 3*** hotel with breakfast, in Chania One (1) stay in a 3*** hotel with breakfast in Heraklion Tours – guided tours by a professional guide. Two (2) passages on board with interior cabins (departure and return).
Residence tax (Law 4389/2016, Official Journal A 94-2016, article 53). VAT NOT INCLUDED: Entrance fees to museums – archaeological sites, meals other than breakfast, transport tickets to Spinalonga Island.
For declarations and information contact the following telephone numbers: PATHIR ANTHIMOS: 6936994447 or Travel agency: 26710 29125/ 6946731213
Important information: Our Office is not responsible for any claim arising from variations in departure times for reasons of force majeure (natural phenomena, disasters, strikes, etc.) even if these affect the rest of the services provided (duration of stay, transport).
