Description of the attraction
To the north of the Cathedral of St. Minas is St. Catherine's Square, which is named after the eponymous church located here. The square is a wonderful oasis in the city center with cozy cafes and children's playgrounds. The hallmark of the square is thousands of pigeons, which locals and guests of the city gladly feed. Surrounded by modern buildings, St. Catherine's Church seems timeless. Since 1967, the building houses the Museum of Religious Art.
The Church of St. Catherine was built in 1555 and belonged to the monastery of St. Catherine on Mount Sinai. Venetian architecture has greatly influenced the appearance of the temple. From the 15th to the 17th century, the temple was the center of intellectual and artistic activity. The nuns of the monastery organized an Orthodox school at the church, in which they studied ancient Greek authors, philosophy, theology, rhetoric and art. The famous El Greco was also educated at this school.
After Heraklion was occupied by the Turks in 1669, the Church of St. Catherine was turned into a Muslim mosque, which remained here until the 20th century, when Crete gained independence.
The exhibits at the museum represent the history of Greek Orthodoxy from the 14th to the 19th century. Here you can see an excellent collection of icons, manuscripts, frescoes, altar furniture, books, church vestments, church utensils and much more. The museum contains six unique works by Mikhail Damascene, who is one of the best representatives of the Cretan school of icon painting. Among them is the famous icon "Adoration of the Magi".
