Location information

Agios Antonios Cave of Patsos

The cave of Aghios Antonios near the village of Patsos also represents a place of dedication as has been proved by archaeological research. It was used as an important centre of worship from the Late Minoan up until the Roman period. An inscription that was found in the cave testifies that Hermes Kraneos was worshipped here. The church in the interior of the cave is dedicated to Aghios Antonios, the patron of the children. The cave is open to visitors.

Rethymno Prefecture Tourism Committee WebPage
• http://www.rethymnon.gr/nature/natur_gr05.htm (1 img.)

  Near the village of Patsos there are two caves in the hill of Soros. The cave of Ermis Kraneos (Hermes of the Fountain) was a sacred site in antiquity. No systematic excavation has been done yet, but periodically people have found objects from the Minoan, Greek and Roman eras. The cave of Ermis Kraneos is known to the locals as Agios Antonios Cave because of the small church of Agios Antonios that has been built within it. The cave (signposted) is within a beautiful park in a small gorge. It is believed that Patsos has been built on top of an older site. About 300 metres further to the north there is Fournare, another cave.

This text is cited Dec 2002 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains images.

Crete TOURnet WebPage
• http://www.crete.tournet.gr/Site.jdp?ID=1445 (3 img.)

Patsos village hasn't any historical interest but near the village there are two caves in the hill of Soros with great interest. The cave of Ermis Kraneos (Hermes of the Fountain) was a sacred site in antiquity. No systematic excavation has been done yet, but people have found objects from the Minoan, Greek and Roman eras. The cave of Ermis Kraneos is known to the locals as Agios Antonios Cave because of the small church of Agios Antonios that has been built within it. The cave is within a beautiful park in a small gorge. It is believed that Patsos has been built on top of an older site. About 300 metres the north there is another cave, Fournare.

This text is cited Jan 2004 from the Interdynamic S.A. URL below, which contains image

• http://www.ellada.net/crete-info/rethymnosivritos.... (1 img.)

The gorge of Patsos

The gorge of Patsos is easy to walk through. Both the gorge and the cave, which hosts the Church of Aghios Antonios, have been improved by the Forest authority and are an excellent destination for short tours and a picnic.

Rethymno Prefecture Tourism Committee WebPage
• http://www.rethymnon.gr/nature/natur_en06.htm (1 img.)

Byzantine church of the Panagia

  In Patsos there are also the remains of the Byzantine church of the Panagia which contains frescoes. The church of the Panagia according to Gerola (an Italian historical photographer who visited Crete in 1902), used to have nine domes (!) of which the five in the middle were larger than the others. The people of the area talk also about a church of the Panagia that used to have 101 windows and doors. The roof of the church has fallen in but some church walls and some frescoes remain. The environment resembles one of an ancient temple. A short path from the centre of the village leads to the church. No systematic excavation has been done.

This text is cited Dec 2002 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains images.

Crete TOURnet WebPage
• http://www.crete.tournet.gr/Site.jdp?ID=1225 (6 img.)