The Monastery of Agios Panteleimonas stands on a verdant slope, south of Fodele village, at an altitude of 170 meters from the sea. The inscription “NARROW THE GATE AND BEREAVED THE ROAD WHICH LEADS TO LIFE” welcomes visitors since 1677.

Although there is no clear information about the history of its construction, it is said that the monks Makarios, Kosmas and Jeremiah abandoned the old monastery of Agios Antonios in the village of Sisses Mylopotamos, as it was destroyed by the Ottomans. The monks escaped to the village of Fodele and founded the Monastery of Saint Panteleimon, which has suffered many damages since the Cretan struggle.

Apart from its long history and the legends that the particular monastery has to tell, it hosts even some of the most important historical documents and relics of the time, as well as the pictures of Georgi Kastrofilakas and Michael Damaskinos (17th century), works of the Cretan School and of course a section of the Holy Relish from the hand of St. Panteleimonas, which is kept in a silver case with reliefs of the Virgin Mary and the Saint.

The Monastery of Agios Panteleimonas is about 20 km from our hotel and access is easy by car. If you have the intention to visit the village of Fodele and the Museum of the great Cretan painter Dominikos Theotokopoulos, then combine your visit with the Monastery of St. Panteleimonas, which is 5 km away, and admire the beauty of the Monastery and the surrounding area with lush vegetation.