Ágii Patéres - The Cave of the 99 Holy Fathers Traditional Cache

...tells that the 99 fathers came from Egypt, Cyprus and Turkey under the leadership of St. John to Azogires. The first place where they settled was under a large plane tree (N35 16.248 E23 43.324). They wished that the plane tree will always remain green, in summer and in winter and its branches should form into crosses. Both had actually occurred. Moreover, they said, the tree should not die before it has 99 crosses.

At the beginning, the holy fathers slept in the cave (N35 16.202 E23 43.337) near the plane tree, while John stayed in the cave above the village. One day, he decided to go north to the remote peninsula Akrotiri near (N35 35.461 E24 08.786) Chania in order to live as a hermit. The holy fathers settled down in the cave in which their leader had stayed. Before John left, they swore when one of them dies, the others should die too.

At Akrotiri John survived by eating fruits and vegetables from gardens. To protect against the cold he wore a sheepskin. One of the farmers spotted him in a crawling position and thought that it was a wild animal that eats his stocks. The farmer took bow and arrow and shot on the supposed sheep. John crawled, seriously wounded, back into his cave. The next day the farmer followed the blood traces. In the same moment, in which he entered the cave, an unreal light began to shine. He saw John dying on the ground, and realized that he has hit a holy man. He asked John to forgive him. John did it, but only on the condition that the farmer goes to Azogires to tell his 99 brothers that he was dying and they should die with him. The man did so, but when he arrived Azogires, the 99 holy fathers had died all together the day before.

The original cave of the holy fathers is situated below the today's cave. Twenty years ago the last inhabitant, who knew the entrance of the cave, died.

People said, some hundred years ago, there was a table-shaped stone in front of that entrance. In a radius of the table other stones were arranged like chairs and the skeletons of the holy fathers were said to be sitting on them with walking sticks and all their belongings. For fear of the turks, the entrance had been closed.

Until today the cave system is not fully explored.

Go to Azogires, a small village about 6km northwest of Palaiochora. There you’ll find a sign Spileo/Cave, see left picture below (N35 16.328 E23 43.161). Follow the sign up the concrete road about 2km. The first few meters are very steep, but the rest gets better. Park your car at the end of the road (N35 16.299 E23 42.621). Now follow the sign on the right picture below, or follow your GPS. The path will guide you to the mouth of the cave (N35 16.311 E023 42.528), which is located on a plateau surrounded by rock face. The mouth is a big crevice.

...is hidden in the cave. You will need a flashlight! A headlamp is recommended. Enter the mouth and go down the 3 steel ladders. Now you’ll see the first altar. Go on and keep on the right wall. Find the little gap marked with “NERO” (visit link) and follow it to the end. Turn around and find the cache on eye-level under some rock.

Don't hesitate to have a look at the spoiler picture (visit link).

Don’t miss to visit the second altar at the end of the cave. For a better orientation in the cave, use the map below.

Map of the Cave

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If you wish further information about the cave and the village, don’t hesitate to ask the friendly English speaking staff at the Alfa Cafe (N35 16.340 E23 43.194). Eftichi has drawn the map below which shows you more interesting places near Azogires that you should visit. She kindly allowed me to publish the map. You can also get it there for free.

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More caches on Crete

Agia Sofía Cave(visit link), Agia Iríni Gorge (visit link), Ágii Patéres - The Cave of the 99 Holy Fathers (visit link), Ménies Bay (visit link), Highway to Hell - Cave of Tsanís - Earthcache (visit link)

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