Agia Eirini Krousonas

The Monastery of Agia Eirini, also known as St. Irene’s, is one of the oldest Christian monastic sites in Crete. Perched on the eastern slopes of Mount Psiloritis at around 630–650 m altitude, it boasts breathtaking views over the countryside. Tradition holds it was founded in the 14th or 15th century, with the first documented reference in the late 16th century under abbott Ionas Danilis. Once a flourishing spiritual and educational center, it was destroyed by Ottoman forces in 1822—who massacred its monks—but was lovingly rebuilt and reopened as a women’s convent in 1944