Location
Church of the Archangel Michael, Aradena
Aradena, Chania
Church of the Archangel Michael, Aradena – Aradena, Chania
**Church of the Archangel Michael in Aradena** The Church of the Archangel Michael in Aradena is one of the most important sacred monuments in the Sfakia region and one of the best-preserved examples of 14th-century monumental painting in southern Crete. Located on the edge of a deep gorge, in an almost completely abandoned village, it brings together historical layers reaching back to the Early Christian period. Its present form dates to the early 14th century, yet the foundations of the church conceal the remains of a much earlier, 6th-century basilica. The combination of a harsh natural landscape, isolation, and a rich painted decoration makes this church one of the most distinctive ecclesiastical monuments of southern Crete.
Description
The church is a **cross-in-square domed structure** with a hexagonal dome, representing a type characteristic of the so-called *Helladic* school, whose influence is evident in both the constructional solutions and the proportions of the building. Situated high above the Aradena Gorge, it occupies the site of an earlier Early Christian basilica, attesting to the continuity of religious worship at this location in Sfakia.
The interior is decorated with a cycle of frescoes dated to the 14th century. The program includes scenes from the life of Christ, representations of the Archangel Michael, and numerous figures of saints. The decoration is marked by an intense color palette and features typical of the late Byzantine painting tradition of Crete. Despite the passage of time, the frescoes have survived in relatively good condition, and their stylistic qualities point to a regional artistic milieu that developed on the island during the Venetian period.
Following the abandonment of the village of Aradena, the church has retained its original character. The surrounding area, devoid of residential buildings and regular traffic, lends the site a distinctive, almost archaeological atmosphere. Access is possible either via the suspension bridge over the gorge or by the road from Anopolis; while the area is accessible, caution is required due to the steep terrain.
The Church of the Archangel Michael remains one of the key reference points for the study of monumental art in southern Crete and a powerful testament to the centuries-long presence of Christianity in the region of Sfakia.
Location
Aradena, Chania
Coordinates: 35.22358, 24.06261