It is located in the NW of Rhodia, in an area with a rich religious tradition. According to some, its name refers to the coastal monastery of Agios Savvas which was abandoned due to pirate raids, a hypothesis that is disputed by many.
During the period of the siege of Khandaka by the Turks, the Sabvathianon monastery suffered many disasters, lost most of its property and declined rapidly until the great Turkish attack of 1648, when the monastery's property was confiscated and the monks were captured. Since then the monastery began to fall into disrepair until a monk, Nathanael, returned to rebuild it.
Source: HERAKLION DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION
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