St. George Selinaris monastery
St George Selinaris is a men’s monastery inside the Selinari gorge in eastern Crete, close to Vrachasi village and Neapolis. The national road linking Heraklion with Agios Nikolaos runs alongside the monastery, so the gate opens straight off a main route. That position is the reason the monastery takes in visitors daily.
Cretans hold that passing through the canyon without stopping at St George brings bad luck. The custom goes back to the years when travellers broke the journey here to rest with their animals, and drivers keep it up today by pulling in at the monastery gate.
The monk Nikolaos and the founding of the monastery
Tradition credits the founding of St George Selinaris to a monk from Rhodes named Nikolaos. He was guided by God to a spot where he found the icon of St George, and he built a church on that spot. Nikolaos stayed at Selinari for the rest of his life.
He was buried in a small cave at the summit of Mount Anavlohos, which he had carved out himself. Several years after his death, sailors from Rhodes were led to his tomb by a shining star. They read the star as a divine sign and carried his bones back to Rhodes.
The Anavlohos cave opposite the monastery
The Anavlohos cave sits on the eastern side of the gorge, directly opposite the monastery. Look up at the gorge walls for a large cross, which marks the exact spot. The cave can be reached on foot, but the path up is steep and needs good physical fitness.
The icon with three bullets
The old icon of Saint George carries 3 bullets embedded in the wood. They are taken as evidence of the Ottoman period, when the Turks are believed to have tried to destroy the monastery. The icon is also held to be miraculous.
What you see at the monastery today
The main body of the central church is modern, and so are the wall paintings in the chapel of St George. That chapel is the original temple built by Nikolaos, so it is the oldest part of the complex even though its decoration is recent. A modern nursing home also operates on the grounds, put up on the ruins of the old monastery cells.
Outside the church there is a spring where you can cool off, and the green canyon stands around the buildings. The monks welcome visitors and are eager to share the history of the monastery.
Things to do near St George Selinaris
5 short trips start within 5 km of the monastery, listed here nearest first.
- Look into the gorge the monastery stands in. Selinaris Gorge runs around the buildings, and the Anavlohos cave is part of its eastern wall.
- Swim at Sissi. The Sissi beaches lie 3.2 km away, with the village of Sissi itself 3.4 km from the monastery.
- Visit Milatos Cave. The cave sits 4.3 km off, and the Milatos beaches are 4.6 km away on the same road.
- Walk a Minoan palace. The Minoan Malia Palace lies 4.4 km from the gorge, which makes it the closest major archaeological site.
- Pair the visit with a second monastery. Kera Kardiotissa Monastery is 9.8 km away.
Getting to St George Selinaris
Drive the national road between Heraklion and Agios Nikolaos and turn in where it passes the monastery in the Selinari gorge. No detour is involved, because the road runs along the side of the complex. Vrachasi village and Neapolis are the two settlements closest to the site.
The resorts along this coast supply the nearest beds. Malia and Malia beach are 7.2 km from the monastery, and Potamos Beach is 5.4 km away. Neapoli stands 6.8 km off, and Krassi village is 8.7 km away.
Frequently asked questions
Where is St George Selinaris monastery?
The monastery stands inside the Selinari gorge in eastern Crete, beside the national road between Heraklion and Agios Nikolaos. Vrachasi village and Neapolis are the nearest settlements, and the harbour of Sissi lies 3.4 km away.
Why do Cretans stop at St George Selinaris?
Cretans stop because passing through the canyon without stopping is held to bring bad luck. The belief dates from the time when travellers rested here with their animals before carrying on through the gorge.
Who founded the monastery?
A monk from Rhodes named Nikolaos. He found the icon of St George on the site, built a church there, and lived at Selinari until his death. His bones were later taken back to Rhodes by sailors from his home island.
Can you visit the Anavlohos cave?
Yes, the cave is accessible on foot from the monastery side of the gorge. The climb is steep and calls for good physical fitness. A large cross on the gorge wall opposite the monastery marks where the cave opens.
What is the icon of Saint George at Selinari?
It is an old icon with 3 bullets embedded in it, regarded as miraculous. The bullets are read as proof of an Ottoman attempt to destroy the monastery.
Is there anything else to see at the monastery?
The chapel of St George, a spring and a modern nursing home built on the old monastery cells. The chapel is the original church raised by Nikolaos, although both the main church body and the chapel wall paintings are modern work.
Location
St. George Selinaris monastery is located at St. George Selinaris monastery, in the Lassithi region of Crete. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
