The Jewel of Hersonissos Port: Agia Paraskevi Church

A significant historical and cultural landmark 

 Built into a hollow rock on Kastri Hill, Ekklesia Agia Paraskevi (Church of St. Parascheva) is a discreet yet priceless gem in the heart of Hersonissos port. More than a place of worship, it is a significant historical and cultural landmark of Hersonissos town.

Above the church, within an open-access mini-archaeological site, the remains of an early Christian basilica, known as Basilica B΄, tell the stories of the flourishing times of the Aegean port city of Chersonasus.

 Layers of archaeological excavations here reveal traces of continuous habitation spanning various periods, from the early Minoan to the pre-Christian, highlighting the social and economic importance of this part of the island throughout the ages.

 Erected in 1870, the Agia Paraskevi church predates many other religious places in the area. It serves as a tangible link to the times of great turmoil, culminating in the liberation of the Cretans from Ottoman rule. The church underwent an expansion in the 1930s to accommodate the ever-growing community of parishioners. Despite suffering great losses in a fire in 1994, the church has been restored, preserving its historical essence in the rock-hewn altar model.

 Inside, visitors are welcomed by a woodcut contemporary iconostasis adorned with depictions of Archangel Michael, Vrefokratoussa (Infant Holder), Pantocrator (Almighty), and St. Paraskevi. The image of Platytera (Wider than the Heavens) and the Above Prophets on the frieze enhances the spiritual ambiance, inviting visitors to prayer, contemplation, and reflection.

 The church of Agia Paraskevi gathers almost the whole town for the Holy Saturday service. Following the local tradition, a spectacular symbolic burning of the effigy of Judas takes place on the plateau in front of the church at midnight.

Also, the church is celebrated with pomp by the entire community together with representatives of the municipality on the 26th of July, the feast day of Saint Paraskevi in Greece, marking its significance.

 The church of Agia Paraskevi is accessible within a 30-minute walk from the city center and is open for visiting. Even though it is located next to the most effervescent area of ​​the port of Hersonissos, it gives you the image of an emblematic place for the religious atmosphere and rugged beauty of the island of Crete.

  If you are on vacation in Hersonissos, when you go for a walk on the promenade, do not hesitate to linger in this discreet and quiet place, but with a great spiritual reverberation!