Christianity on Crete

Crete came into contact with Christianity very early on. Saint Paul showed especial interest in promoting the new religion, visiting the island during his second mission (62-3 AD) and entrusting the organisation of the Cretan Church to his pupil Titus.

The persecution instigated by various Roman emperors against supporters of the new religion afflicted the Christian community on Crete; the best known instances involved the Ten Martyrs, put to death on 23^rd December 250 AD, and Cyril, Bishop of Gortyn, martyred on 9^th July 304 AD.

Christianity gained a lasting hold on the island in the 4^th century, when the Cretan Church was fully organised.

In administrative terms the Archdiocese of Crete was mainly subject to the Patriarchate of Rome, but was annexed once and for all by the Patriarchate of Constantinople in the mid-8^th century, with the waning of Byzantine power in Italy, and possibly also on account of the Iconoclast Controversy.