Church of Panagia Myrtidiotissa (Panagia Kritikia)

At the higher districts of Lower City of Monemvasia, at one of the uphill cobbled streets that head towards Upper City, dominates he impressive, tall façade of the church of Panagia Myrtidiotissa, also known as Panagia Kritikia (from Crete) because it located at the district where refugees from Crete has settled in the 17th century.

It was built in the period of the 2nd Venetian Occupation, around 1700, and local tradition relates its foundation with Filotheos Darmarios, bishop of Kithira who came from Monemvasia. At Kithira, which had a commercial relationship and cultural ties to Monemvasia, the worship of Panagia Myrtidiotissa had already from that time a prominent place.

The church is an aisleless basilica with a dome and its architecture combines Byzantine and Venetian elements. The shape of the entrance with the gable, the round oculi and the pointed cornices are characteristic influences of western style. As a matter of fact it is probable that the same people who constructed the large fortification works of the Venetian in the Peloponnese also worked here, since the church, like many in the area, presents intense elements of fortification architecture. At its interior there is no painting decoration and dominates the wooden-carved, gold-plated screen, which dates from the 16th century. it is a work that is also characterized by Renaissance influences and it is noteworthy that it was transferred here in the 19th century from the church of Elkomenos Christos, where it belonged initially.

The church celebrates on the 24th of September.