Museum of St. Catherine in Heraklion

About the museum

The museum is housed in the church of the metochi (monastic dependency) of the Monastery of Sinai in Heraklion, northeast of the Metropolitan Church of Agios Minas. The Monastery of St Catherine of the Sinaites was an important spiritual and cultural centre of Venetian-ruled Crete until Chandax (Heraklion) fell to the Ottomans in the 17th century. The monastery had a school, where, according to tradition, important scholars taught in the 16th century.

In the surviving katholikon (main church) of the monastery and in the chapel of the Ten Saints (Agion Deka), an exhibition of representative works of Byzantine and post-Byzantine art is currently housed under the auspices of the Holy Archdiocese of Crete. Following a new display of the works, the museum began operating in 2015 as the Museum of Christian Art.

Collections of icons, church books and manuscripts, vestments, liturgical vessels and treasures, wall paintings, woodcarvings and sculptures are on display. Particularly prominent are the icons attributed to the painter Angelos or his circle, and the set of six icons by Michael Damaskinos, among the most important works of the 16th-century Cretan school.

Highlights

• Six icons by Michael Damaskinos
• Icons attributed to the painter Angelos or his circle
• Detached wall paintings from churches in Crete
• Liturgical vessels, vestments, manuscripts and woodcarvings
• The Venetian church of St Catherine

Permanent exhibition

• Εικόνες και κειμήλια της κρητικής αναγέννησης – Icons, wall paintings, manuscripts, vestments, vessels, woodcarvings and sculptures from the Byzantine and post-Byzantine period, with the works of Michael Damaskinos as highlights.

Founded

2015

Operated by

Ιερά Αρχιεπισκοπή Κρήτης

Admission & discounts

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum is accessible to people with disabilities; there is a ramp.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum is located northeast of the Metropolitan Church of Agios Minas, in the centre of Heraklion.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit