The Katholikos gorge is one of its most important gorges Crete with special religious value since several monks practiced asceticism in the caves of the canyon, while inside the canyon is also the oldest monastery of the island, the Monastery of Katholikos.

It is located approximately 16 kilometers east of the city of Chania.

The entrance to the gorge is located behind the historic Gouvernetou Monastery at the foot of Mount Skloka in Akrotiri Chania. After a 20-minute walk, we come across the abandoned Catholic Monastery with cave church of Agios Ioannis the Hermit who lived inside this beautiful cave in the 14th century.

The monastery is built between the two ends of the gorge, which are joined by a beautiful single-arched bridge.

In the 17th century, in front of the cave, there was an extensive construction of buildings under the supervision of Ieremias Tzagarolos and with architectural plans from the works of Sebastiano Serlio and thus the monastic complex acquired its current impressive form.

You can still see the ruined cells of the ascetics, the bell tower and the impressive bridge that crosses the river of the gorge, creating a large square that joins the two sides.

At the foot of the bridge there are large vaulted storage areas, while on either side a two-story building and a small wing of vaulted spaces were built for the accommodation of pilgrims.