Description of the attraction
Walking through the narrow streets of the historical center of Rethymno and enjoying its unique color and magnificent architecture, you should definitely pay attention to the Church of Our Lady of the Angels or, as the locals call it, Mikri Panagia. This snow-white three-aisled basilica with an elegant bell tower, built in a typical Renaissance style, is located at the corner of Nikiforou Fock Street and Arampatzoglu Street (near the Museum of History and Folk Art and the Rimondi Fountain) and is considered one of the most interesting sights of Rethymno. and is also an important historical and architectural monument.
The Church of Our Lady of the Angels was built by monks of the Dominican order during the last period of the Venetian rule on the island of Crete and consecrated in honor of Mary Magdalene. With the arrival of the Turks in Rethymno, the church functioned for some time as a Christian temple, but then, like most of the churches in the city, it was nevertheless transformed into a mosque and received the name "Anghebat Ahmed Pasha Mosque". The minaret, built by Muslims, soon partially collapsed and was never rebuilt, while the locals for a long time jokingly called its remains "an old stump". Unfortunately, the ablution fountain built by the Turks near the mosque has not survived, unfortunately.
In 1917, Christians returned their shrine, and the temple was consecrated in honor of Our Lady of the Angels. During this period, the remains of the minaret were removed, and already in 1920 a church bell tower was built. Funds for its construction were donated by a young girl - a terminally ill resident of the city, which is still reminded of a memorial plaque in the upper part of the bell tower.
