The Orthodox Academy of Crete is a public welfare institution in canonical relationship with the Holy Metropolis of Kisamos and Selinon.
You will stay at the OAC and visit the whole of Crete on this wonderful journey.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Flight from your point of origin to Chania
Arrival at Chania and transfer to the Orthodox Academy of Crete (OAC). Reception by the OAC, distribution of rooms, dinner and overnight stay at the Academy.
Day 2: Academy, Youth Centre, Saint Makarios
After breakfast, the tour starts by the Academy. We then visit the Museum of Cretan herbs of the OAC. After the trip to the west of the island, we visit of the Euro-Med Youth Center of the OAC in Nopigia. Return to OAC and have a short walk to St. Makarios sacred cave chapel (Kathisma) on the Academy grounds. After a brief relaxing break for a Greek coffee Lecture, we go to the OAC and have an introduction to the work of the OAC (M. Phil Emanuela Larentzakis.). This will be followed by a video presentation about the first years of the Academy work “talents in the vineyard”. Dinner and overnight stay at the OAC.
Day 3:Rethymnon, Matala, Phaistos
After breakfast, excursion to Rethymnon. The third largest city of Crete is located on the north coast between Heraklion and Chania.
There are only very scanty traces from the Minoan era today, which are located at the Heraklion Archaeological Museum. Rethymnon has unbelievably narrow streets, often with surprisingly high buildings. Worth seeing are the numerous balconies with beautiful Venetian forged or Turkish woodcarving.
Lunch in Matala and continue to Phaistos. Phaistos or Phaestos is the name of a Bronze Age Minoan settlement in Crete. Set in the present prefecture of Heraklion Ruins of the Palace of Phaistos formed on a surface of 8,400 m². It was once the second largest Minoan palace in Crete. Return to OAC.
Day 4: Falassarna, Gonia Monastery
After breakfast we drive to Falassarna to the archaeological excavations of the Hellenistic and Roman times – and the docks of the ancient city Polyrrhinia.
Then visit the historic monastery Gonia (17th c.) And the icon museum of the monastery.
In the late afternoon we have a conversation with Prof. Dr. Grigorios Larentzakis about the Orthodox faith, its history and the Orthodox understanding of the Church. Then we talk with M. Theol. Georgios Vlantis on the aspects of Orthodox spirituality, monasticism and the Prayer of Jesus, fasting and icons. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 5: Holy Sunday liturgy, Monastery Chryssopigi, Icon workshop, Cave chapel
After breakfast, we have a participation in the Holy. Sunday Liturgy in the Convent Chryssopigi. We then go through the abbey, talk with the nuns about their daily routine and life in the monastery. After the visit we will have a discussion on the biological cultivation of different crops there. We then have a trip to the icon studios of OAC (Konstantina Stefanaki, icon painter of OAC). Excursion to the cave chapel of Agia Sophia (at Topolia), to the historic monastery Chrysoskalitissa (West Crete, with spectacular views of the Libyan Sea) and continue to Kastelli. Dinner and overnight stay at the OAC.
Day 6: Heraklion, Knossos, Fodele
After breakfast we drive to Heraklion (Archaeological Museum, Cathedral, Fortress Koules grave of N. Kazantzakis) and Knossos. The Palace of Knossos was created as a group of buildings of up to five storeys with a constructed area of 21,000 m². The heart of the palace is the so-called Throne Room, due to an alabaster throne found there.
Knossos was inhabited during the ceramic Neolithic period. The oldest traces of settlements are up to eight meters thick, and date from the 4th millennium BC. Immigrants perhaps migrated from Asia Minor, in the early 3rd millennium BC. to Crete. We have a coffee break in Fodele (birthplace of El Greco). In the evening return to OAC with dinner and overnight.
Day 7: Chania, Maleme, Monastery of Agia Triada
After breakfast we have a day trip to Chania. We drive to Maleme (German military cemetery), and then to the Akrotiri peninsula. Then we visit the Venizelos Tombs (the statesman Eleftherios Venizelos and his son Sophocles). Afterwards we drive to Monastery of Agia Triada and the old town of Chania and have lunch at the Venetian harbor. Return to the Academy. Then we have another conversation opportunity to learn more about the Orthodox Church in the world of today and of the problems it encounters, and to know the tradition and innovation, as well as the topics Orthodoxy and Ecumenism – Orthodoxy and Europe with Dr. Alexandros Papaderos, the former Director-General. Return for dinner and overnight stay at the OAC.
Day 8:Free day, Flight to Athens
After breakfast we visit the Greek Orthodox community Kolympari. There we will have the opportunity to speak with the priest Dionysius Ntaountakis. Then in the OAC we have an information session with M. Theol. Georgios Vlantis about the Orthodox Church and its significance, the celebration of the liturgy and the spiritual and social dimension of worship. The afternoon is free. In the evening we transfer to the airport and fly to Athens. Arrive in Athens, transfer to hotel, dinner and overnight stay in Athens.
Day 9: Return flight to your point of origin
After breakfast, transfer to Athens airport and flight back to your point of Origin.
