Kroussonas, the seat of the municipality, is the main village of the county of Malevizi in the prefecture of Heraklion. The village is built in a semi-circle on the eastern slopes of the Psilortis (the highest mountain in Crete), between the hills of Koupos and Livadiotis, at 460 meters above sea-level at a distance of 21 kilometres from Heraklion.

The village and its surroundings is full of churches and chapels, some very old and each one with its own story.

-The church of Jesus Christ, better known as Agios (Saint) Charalambos

This is a very old church, inside the village. Its exact date is unknown but it certainly existed in Venetian times and during the Turkish conquest of the island. Important historical events have taken place in this church, like the burning of the Albanian Turks in 1822. The hole in the roof through which the fire caught, can still be seen.

-The church of Panagia Kera (Our Lady)
This is the oldest church in the village and it lies behind the church of Saint Charalambos. The ring of its bell was famous: a Russian princess who, when returning from a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, had been cured by our Lady, gave the bell to this church in 1674. The bell was built in Odessa and contained a large amount of gold and silver; unfortunately, it was melted down and replaced by a much smaller one with a common ring...

-The church of Agia Triada (the Holy Trinity)
This is a new church in the village square.

-The church of Saint Irini
It is built in the grounds of the monastery bearing the same name.

-The church of Saint Fanourios
An ancient church built in the monastery of Agia Eleousa near the village of Kitharida. It is said that during the Turkish occupation, the agha (Turkish commander) would always make a point of stopping at the monastery to beat the monk who lived there. the poor monk, in despair, prayed to Saint Fanourios to save him from these beatings. To no avail: the agha went on beating him just as much. The monk, then, angrily flung the Saint's icon outside the monastery. Next time the agha came by, he tripped over the icon and, in his fall, killed himself! So it was that after all the Saint did work his miracle (after being suitably reproved by the monk!)

-The church of Saint George Kokkiniako
A church with a small hospice.

-The church of Saint Paraskevi
It is situated outside the village, in a place called Virgin Mary "TZAMA", where rituals were held in ancient times. This is shown in the name TZAMA which means the mother (MA) of Zeus (ZA). Later on, in Christian times, it is said that a huge rock was about to roll down and crush the village: the Virgin Mary pushed the rock back with her shoulder and the mark of her shoulder can still be seen on the rock...

Agia Irini Krousonas

More about the area...

• Monasteries
• Caves
• Other
• Villages

Agios Nikitas Monastery, Central South Crete

Toplou Monastery in Palekastro East Crete

Kera or Kardiotissa Monastery in Lassithi East Crete

Odigitrias Monastery, Central South Crete

Chrisoskalitisa Monastery, West Crete Elafonisi, Chania

Arvi Agios Antonios Monastery in South Crete

Kyra Eleousa Monastery, Gouves, Heraklion

Aistratigos Monastery by Karkadiotissa

Agios Georgios in Voila - Chandras, Sitia

Chrisopigi Monastery, Chania

Agia Kiriaki Monastery, Varipetro, Chania

Monastery of Metamorfosis Keramou in Neapolis

Karydi or Agios Georgios Monastery, Apokoronas

Exakoustis Monastery in Malles, Ierapetra

Agia Triada Monastery, West Crete Akrotiri, Chania

Ideon Andron Cave in Heraklion

Hainospilios Cave, Kamaraki Rethimno

Agia Paraskevi or Skotino Cave in Gouves, Heraklion

Apoloustres Cave in Pefki - Makrigialos, East Crete

Agia Fotini Cave in Avdou

Eileithyia Cave in Karteros, Heraklion

Melidoni Cave, Rethimno, Bali Central Crete

Mougri Cave, Rethimno

Pelekita cave in Kato Zakros, East Crete

Theriospilios cave in Kavousi, East Crete

Milatos Cave in Lassithi Agios Nikolaos, East Crete

Drakoulaki Cave, Sfakia

Astraki Cave in Heraklion

Marathospilios Cave, Rethimno

Trapeza or Kronio Cave in Lassithi Plateau, East Crete

Holidays on Crete: Visit the East of Crete

Rethimno Prefecture, West Crete

Chania Prefecture

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Kazani - Raki distillation. Popular tradition of Crete

Rethimno and the friends

Traditional Cretan Music & Dances. Culture in Crete

Hiking: From Askifou to Livada, on the E4 trail

Fishing in Crete

Towns For Your Crete Sightseeing

Junipers plants - trees in Crete - Greece

Crete Promoted as Hot Tourist Destination for Dutch Visitors

Rethymno: Tales of Renaissance and Resistance

The Secret of Cretan Longevity

Hiking: Agia Roumeli - Agios Ioannis by south West Crete

Skopela in Heraklion, Central Crete

Prassas Village in Iraklion Central Crete

Mathia Village, Heraklion, Central Crete

Achlada Village in Iraklion Central Crete

Listaros Village by Messara, Central Crete

Saktouria Village by Rethimno, Central Crete

Kastamonitsa in Kasteli Heraklion Central Crete

Armaha Village, Heraklion, Central Crete

Amourgeles Village in Heraklion Central Crete

Amnatos Village by Rethimno, Central Crete

Aimonas Village, Milopotamos, Rethimno, Central Crete

Astraki Village in Heraklion, Central Crete

Agios Thomas Village in Iraklion Central Crete

Thronos by Amari Valley, Traditional Village, Rethimno

Moni Village in Tylisos