Location information

Chonos cave

SARCHOS (Village) KROUSSONAS

Byzantine church of Agios Fanourios

KITHARIDA (Settlement) KROUSSONAS
  Agios Fanourios Church belonged to the monastery of the Panagia Eleousa which itself belonged to the monastery of Agia Irini. The church, which is located in a cultivated valley below the hills of Krousonas, can be seen on the right as you enter the village. Park in the village and take the footpath to the elegant cemetery church. Agios Fanourios is one of the most architecturally interesting Byzantine churches on Crete. It is composed of three aisles and a narthex which is located in front of the sanctuary. The three aisles end up in three concave recesses at the back of the church. Above this part of the church there are three domes, one for each aisle. It is rare to find domes above the sanctuary of the church and this is one example. The church's exterior is decorated with rosettes (circular glazed surfaces) which are unusual for their size (often as big as a dinner plate) and for their decorative paintings which include birds.

This text is cited Feb 2003 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains images.

Crete TOURnet WebPage
• http://www.crete.tournet.gr/Site.jdp?ID=544 (7 img.)