Σπηλαιο αη Σοφια

Spilia Agia Sophia - Ayía Sofia Cave - Cave of Agia Sophia - St Sophia’s Cave

Useful Information

Location:	Minoa Pediada 734 00. On Crete, between Topolia and Kartsomatado (Koutsamatados) in the gorge of Topolia. Near Hania, 48 km from Chania. From Topolia through the gorge and the tunnel, 500 m after the tunnel parking on the left. Footpath across the road 5 min to the cave. (35.411299, 23.681840)
Open:	no restrictions. [2024]
Fee:	free. [2024]
Classification:	Karst Cave Cave Church
Light:	bring torch
Dimension:	Ø=70 m, H=20 m, A=285 m asl
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:	Paul Faure (1964): Fonctions des Cavernes Crétoises, Paris. E de Boccard.
Address:
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History

1963	S. Hood discovers a clay statuette from the 4th century BC.
1964	Paul Faure mentions that he saw sherds of the neolithic, classic and Roman times in the cave.

Description

A short distance after the tunnel, there is a well maintained footpath on the mountain side which leads up to the cave entrance which is an impressive 25 m wide by 10 m high. The cave is of great scientific interest, and consists of an enormous chamber which has a diameter of 70m and is 20 m high. There are marvellous stalagmites and stalactites of various shapes. In the entrance on the left end there is a small church with an icon that, as tradition says, came from Constantinople, and has been wedged in a rock Many finds from Neolithic era were discovered in the cave. Two patronal feasts take place there each year: One on Tuesday after Easter and a second on December 24, when the birth of Jesus is celebrated.

Text by Tony Oldham (2002). With kind permission.

The Σπηλαιο αη Σοφια (Spilia Agia Sophia, Cave of Saint Sophia) is located in the Topolia gorge above the road. The cave church makes this a religious site with regular Christian festivities, but actually it was an important place of worship since ancient times. The oldest discovery proving this is a figurine from the 4th century BC. Archaeological excavations show human remains starting in the Neolithic until the present. The endemic cave spider Pholcus creticus was found in the cave.

There are several legends about the cave, for example, there is an impression on a rock which is called St George’s shoehorn, which is thought to be his horse’s hoof imprinted on the rock. How the dragon slayer came to Crete is not explained though. After the Fall of Constantinople, Cretan soldiers returning to Crete brought with them the Sophia Wisdom of God icon from the temple of Justinian. They tried to save if from the Turks, and so they brought it back with them. But after some confusion it was found wedged against a rock inside the cave, and so the chapel was built at this place. A common legend to explain the existence of a church in a remote location, the "stubborn relic".