Situated in the settlement of Aradena in Sfakia, the Church of Michael the Archangel was constructed in the early 14^th century on the site of the central nave of one of the two early Christian basilicas located in the Diocese of Finiki, also known as Aradeni.

As explained by the Ministry of Culture, the Church of Michael the Archangel in Aradena stands out from other cruciform domed churches in Crete due to its architectural deviation, reflecting degenerate trends of the Greek School.

The iconographic programme within the church comprises standing saints depicted at the bottom, along with scenes from the gospel cycle, the synaxarion of the Archangels, the life of St Nicholas, and depictions of the Second Coming. The mural decoration, dating back to the early 14^th century, could be attributed to the renowned painter Michael Veneris.

Photo: Wikipedia