Saint John the Hermit Cave

Greece / Hania / Kolimvari /
 church, cave / cave(s)
 Upload a photo

At the area Marathokefala at Spilia lies the famous historical cave of St. John the Hermit. Inside the cave there is temple of the 15th century and the foundations of old cells that date back in the 17th–18th century.
In the area, locals found a marble altar (kept in the museum of the parish) and a marble head of a child and it is believed that the cave was used as a sanctuary in the pre Christian Era.
On the left of the cave lies the crypt where Saint John the Hermit hided by the frequent visits of the shepherds and farmers. Attached to this, there is a small room that was used as a Secret School during the Turkish Era. Next to the temple, a crack on the rock drips water throughout the year, "the holy water of the Saint" as told, which is stored in a small tank for visitors.
On 6–7 October takes place the feast of St. John the Hermit and on December 24, on Christmas Eve, the Nativity of Christ is represented with real animals, and is very famous throughout Greece.
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   35°31'11"N   23°46'27"E
This article was last modified 8 years ago