Pantanassa Monastery
Pantanassa Monastery is built at an altitude of 30 metres and is 14 km from Heraklion. Specifically, it is located next to the Rodia fishing shelter, behind the Gazi Nautical Club.
The Monastery was founded in 1972 by Metropolitan Nikolaos Xenos, with the primary mission of charity work, in the model of the Kalyviani Monastery in Messara. From then until today, it has operated as an abbey. It is dedicated to the celebration of the Nativity of the Virgin on September 8th (also known as Genesis or Birthday of the Virgin).
The building of the Monastery is of a closed rectangular shape with cells, hostels and warehouses. There is also the large building where the Orphanage used to be housed, now used as a Hermitage. The Monastery founder’s tomb is located in a pine-covered area. The Katholikon dominates the centre of the courtyard. The church is tiled just as the three-aisled basilica type. The central aisle is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, the right to Agia Anna and the left to Agios Nikolaos.