ΧΡΙΣΤΙΑΝΙΚΑ ΜΝΗΜΕΙΑ Ι.Μ.Ι.Σ. ENG

H O L Y M E TR O P O L I S O F
I E R A P E T R A A N D S I T E I A
44
The present Metropolis of Ierapetra and Siteia with its seat in the city
of Ierapetra occupies the southern and eastern part of the county
of Lasithi and includes the former provinces of Iera petra and Siteia
as well as the communities of Kalo Chorio of Merambellou and Kato (Lower)
Symi of Viannos. The Metropolis originated from the union of the Diocese of 45
Ierapetra, which is one of the oldest dioceses of Crete with its bishop already
participating in the Synod of Sardica in AD 343, and the Diocese of Siteia
which was founded already from the 7th or 8th centuries. The Diocese of
Ierapetra included the provinces of Merambellou, Lasithi, and Viannos.
However, with the creation of the Diocese of Petra which appears already in
the 10th century, the Diocese of Ierapetra was named Ieras while a part of
its district was detached to be incorporated into that of Petra. The Dioceses
of Ierapetra and Siteia were consolidated in the 19th century, initially with
the name Ierositeia, while from 1962, they are known as the Metropolis of
Ierapetra and Siteia.
In the middle Byzantine period, the cathedral church of Ierapetra was the
church of the All-Holy Virgin of the Seven Domes, in the settlement of
Episkopi, while it seems that the church of the All-Holy Virgin in Apano
(Upper) Episkopi and the church of the Holy Apostles in Kato (Lower) Episkopi
were used alternately as the cathedral churches of the Diocese of Siteia.
Left: The Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple. Saint George, Kavousi.