The modern history of Crete has become intricately woven with the German occupation, as the island faced the unfortunate events of that time. Unfortunately, the conquerors perpetrated heinous crimes, leaving their indelible marks in many villages.

In Riza, in September 1943, 45 people were executed in the village, precisely where the guerrillas had earlier raised the Greek flag.

The current Church of the Holy Cross stands on the site where people were executed, alongside a monument bearing the names of the victims and an ossuary with the inscription '1944.' In a designated area, just after the monument of the fallen, the skulls of some of the individuals executed in Riza are kept. This is possibly the only instance in Greece, along with Distomo, where the bones of those executed were discovered and put on display.

Info: Wikipedia